Digital Media Recognition Apparatus and Methods

Abstract

One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method of automatically responding to a search query. The method of the preferred embodiment can include steps performed at or by a database, including electronically receiving a query digital media object from a first computer and electronically generating a query index identification of the query digital media object wherein the query index identification includes a query keyword relating to the query digital media object. The method of the preferred embodiment can also include searching the database for an index identification of a digital media object including a keyword relating to the digital media object; and in response to a predetermined level of similarity between the query keyword and the keyword, electronically returning the digital media object in response to the query.

1 . A method of automatically responding to a search query comprising:
 receiving a query digital media object from a first computer;   generating a query index identification of the query digital media object, wherein the query index identification comprises one or more query alphanumeric representations of the query digital media object content and the query digital media context;   searching a database comprising an index identification of a digital media object, wherein the index identification comprises one or more alphanumeric representations of the digital media object content and the digital media object context;   comparing at least one of the query alphanumeric representations of the query digital media object to one of more of the alphanumeric representations of the digital media object;   in response to a predetermined level of similarity between the query alphanumeric representations and the alphanumeric representations, returning the digital media object in response to the query.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric representation comprises one of a subject, a subject name, a subject type, a subject activity, a subject relationship, a subject descriptor, a keyword, a location or a setting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric representation comprises a keyword. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the query alphanumeric representation comprises one of a query subject, a query subject name, a query subject type, a query subject activity, a query subject relationship, a query subject descriptor, a query keyword, a query location or a query setting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the query alphanumeric representation comprises a query keyword. 
     
     
         6 . A method of automatically responding to a search query comprising:
 receiving a query digital media object from a first computer;   generating a query index identification of the query digital media object comprising a query alphanumeric representation of the query digital media object;   searching a database comprising an index identification of a digital media object comprising an alphanumeric representation of the digital media object;   comparing the query alphanumeric representation to the alphanumeric representation;   in response to a predetermined level of similarity between the query alphanumeric representation and the alphanumeric representation, returning the digital media object in response to the query.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the query alphanumeric representation comprises a query keyword. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alphanumeric representation comprises a keyword. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the query alphanumeric representation comprises one of a query subject, a query subject name, a query subject type, a query subject activity, a query subject relationship, a query subject descriptor, a query keyword, a query location or a query setting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alphanumeric representation comprises one of a subject, a subject name, a subject type, a subject activity, a subject relationship, a subject descriptor, a keyword, a location or a setting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the query alphanumeric representation comprises query content data and query context data relating to the query digital media object. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the alphanumeric representation comprises content data and context data relating to the digital media object. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the digital media object comprises an image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the digital media object comprises a video. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the query is received from the first computer through an Internet search engine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the database comprises one or more servers. 
     
     
         17 . A method of automatically responding to a search query comprising:
 at a database:
 electronically receiving a query digital media object from a first computer; 
 electronically generating a query index identification of the query digital media object, the query index identification comprising a query keyword relating to the query digital media object; 
 searching the database for an index identification of a digital media object comprising a keyword relating to the digital media object; and 
 in response to a predetermined level of similarity between the query keyword and the keyword, electronically returning the digital media object in response to the query. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the query is received from the first computer through an Internet search engine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the digital media object comprises an image. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the digital media object comprises a video.