Methods and apparatuses for identifying opportunities to capture content

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses identifying opportunities to capture content sense a user profile; determine a geographic location of a device; and transmit at least one suggestion to the device based on the geographic location of the device and the user profile wherein the suggestion indicates a photo opportunity.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for suggesting local photo opportunities, comprising:
 at least one computer processor, and associated memory, configured for identifying opportunities to capture photographic content;   programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for,
 storing a user profile which includes at least one content type from a number of classification categories describing photographic interests of a user, and in which said content type specifies the category, or kind, of photo opportunity in which the user is interested; 
 receiving a geographical location of an electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image; and 
 generating at least one suggestion based on matching the content types within the user profile which expresses user interests and the content type of the photo opportunity for the geographical location of the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image. 
   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 :
 wherein said at least one computer processor and associated memory comprises an electronic device which is configured to capture an image, and a server; and   wherein the electronic device which is configured to capture an image and the server are configured for communication with one another over a network.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image is configured for communicating over a network with a server, and configured for receiving suggested local photo opportunities therefrom. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said content type categories for representing user interests comprise general categories of content types as well as subsets of the general categories of content types within said user profile. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for selecting a suggestion from said at least one suggestion within a photo opportunity database wherein each suggestion includes a content type and a geographic location. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for adding additional suggestions to said at least one suggestion by widening an area around the geographic location of each suggestion that the electronic device, which is configured to capture an image, is found within or by relaxing a requirement that the content type of each suggestion match the user profile. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for reducing suggestions from said at least one suggestion by tightening a requirement that the content type of each suggestion match the user profile. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for receiving a selection from an electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image as associated with said apparatus wherein the selection is selected from said at least one suggestion. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising:
 an electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image coupled over a network to a server as comprising said at least one computer processor and associated memory; and   programming executable on said at least one said computer processor for transmitting a detailed description, from said server to said electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image, in which the detailed description corresponds to the selection.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said server is configured to store a photo opportunity database that includes a plurality of photo opportunity listings wherein each listing is associated with a geographic area and a content type. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said detailed description includes a sample image of the selection. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said detailed description includes directions to the selection based on the geographic location of the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus for suggesting local photo opportunities, comprising:
 a server computer and associated memory, configured for identifying and suggesting photo opportunities based on location of an associated electronic device with an ability to capture an image;   wherein said server computer is configured to store a photo opportunity database that includes a plurality of photo opportunity listings wherein each listing is associated with a geographic area and a content type; and   programming executable on said server computer for,
 storing a user profile which includes at least one content type from a number of classification categories describing photographic interests of a user, and in which said content type specifies the category, or kind, of photo opportunity in which the user is interested; 
 receiving a geographical location of an electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image; 
 generating at least one suggestion based on matching the content types within the user profile which expresses user interests and the content type of the photo opportunity for the geographical location of the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image; and 
 transmitting photo opportunity information, as said at least one suggestion, from said server computer to the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image. 
   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , wherein said content type categories for representing user interests comprise general categories of content types as well as subsets of the general categories of content types within said user profile. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising programming executable on said server computer for selecting a suggestion from said at least one suggestion within a photo opportunity database wherein each suggestion includes a content type and a geographic location. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising programming executable on said at least one said server computer for adding additional suggestions to said at least one suggestion by widening an area around the geographic location of each suggestion that the electronic device of the user, which is configured to capture an image, is found within or by relaxing a requirement that the content type of each suggestion match the user profile. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising programming executable on said server computer for reducing suggestions from said at least one suggestion by tightening a requirement that the content type of each suggestion match the user profile. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising programming executable on said server computer for receiving a selection from the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image as associated with said apparatus wherein the selection is selected from said at least one suggestion. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising programming executable on said server computer for transmitting a detailed description and sample image to the electronic device of the user, which is configured to capture an image, in which the detailed description corresponds to the selection. 
     
     
         48 . An apparatus for suggesting local photo opportunities, comprising:
 a server computer and associated memory, configured for identifying and suggesting photo opportunities based on location of an electronic device of a user which can capture an image;   means for storing a photo opportunity database within said server computer, which includes a plurality of photo opportunity listings wherein each listing is associated with a geographic area and a content type;   means for storing a user profile within said server computer which includes at least one content type from a number of classification categories describing photographic interests of a user, and in which said content type specifies the category, or kind, of photo opportunity in which the user is interested;   means for receiving a geographical location within said server computer of an electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image; and   means for generating at least one suggestion by said server computer based on matching the content types within the user profile which expresses user interests and the content type of the photo opportunity for the geographical location of the electronic device of the user which is configured to capture an image.