Image Management and Presentation

Abstract

A method for managing a number of images. A plurality of resolutions in which the number of images are to be stored and a style of presentation for the number of images is identified using a policy. A plurality of copies of the number of images in the plurality of resolutions are stored. A copy of a particular image in the number of images for a selected location in a layout defining a presentation for the number of images is selected using the style of presentation. The copy of the particular image has a desired resolution in the plurality of resolutions for the selected location in the layout.

1 . A method for managing a number of images comprising:
 identifying a plurality of resolutions in which the number of images is to be stored and a style of presentation for the number of images using a policy;   storing a plurality of copies of the number of images in the plurality of resolutions; and   selecting a copy of a particular image in the number of images for a selected location in a layout defining a presentation for the number of images using the style of presentation, wherein the copy of the particular image has a desired resolution in the plurality of resolutions for the selected location in the layout.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the style of presentation is a hierarchy in which the particular image on a first level of the hierarchy comprises additional detail about a second image on a second level of the hierarchy, wherein the second level is higher than the first level in the hierarchy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the style of presentation is a grid in which the number of images is ordered according to a physical location of an object depicted in the number of images. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the style of presentation comprises the selected location and a relative size for the particular image in the number of images as compared to a second image in the number of images. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 prior to selecting the copy of the particular image in the number of images for the selected location in the layout, selecting the desired resolution for the particular image based on the relative size of the particular image in the style of presentation. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein metadata is associated with the particular image in the number of images, and further comprising:
 selecting the selected location and the desired resolution for the particular image based on the metadata associated with the particular image.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metadata associated with the particular image comprises a plurality of coordinates for the selected location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metadata associated with the particular image comprises a relative location for the particular image as compared to an image in the number of images. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metadata associated with the particular image comprises information about at least one of a physical area and a level of detail of an object depicted by the particular image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a logical relationship is present between the selected location for the particular image and a number of selected locations for other images in the number of images and is based on a content of the particular image and the other images. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 selecting a size for the particular image in the layout based on the logical relationship. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 identifying the logical relationship between the selected location and the number of selected locations using metadata associated with the particular image. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the layout comprises an identifier for the copy of the particular image having the desired resolution, the selected location at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to the other images in the number of images, and the size at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to copies of the other images in the number of images. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 responsive to a request for the layout from a requester, forming a computer program product containing the layout. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 sending the computer program product, including the layout, to the requester. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 receiving the computer program product, including the layout; 
 requesting the copy of the particular image having the desired resolution using an identifier; and 
 presenting the copy of the particular image at the selected location and a size received in the layout. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the copy is a first copy, the desired resolution is a first desired resolution, and further comprising:
 receiving a request to increase the size of the copy of the particular image in a view to a first level;   determining whether the first level exceeds a threshold;   responsive to a determination that the first level exceeds the threshold, requesting a second copy of the particular image having a second desired resolution, wherein the second copy of the particular image comprises a greater level of detail than the first copy of the particular image; and   presenting the second copy of the particular image such that the second copy is displayed in place of the first copy.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the request is a first request and further comprising:
 receiving a second request to decrease the size of the copy of the particular image in the view to a second level;   determining whether the second level is below the threshold; and   responsive to a determination that the second level is below the threshold, presenting the first copy of the particular image such that the first copy is displayed in place of the second copy.   
     
     
         19 . A method for presenting a layout of a number of images comprising:
 receiving the layout of the number of images comprising an identifier for a copy of a particular image in the number of images having a desired resolution, a selected location at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to other images in the number of images, and a size at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to copies of the other images in the number of images;   requesting the copy of the particular image having the desired resolution using the identifier; and   presenting the copy of the particular image at the selected location and the size received in the layout.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the copy is a first copy, the desired resolution is a first desired resolution, and further comprising:
 receiving a request to increase the size of the copy of the particular image in a view to a first level;   determining whether the first level exceeds a threshold;   responsive to a determination that the first level exceeds the threshold, requesting a second copy of the particular image having a second desired resolution, wherein the second copy of the particular image comprises a greater level of detail than the first copy of the particular image; and   presenting the second copy of the particular image such that the second copy is displayed in place of the first copy.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the request is a first request and further comprising:
 receiving a second request to decrease the size of the copy of the particular image in the view to a second level;   determining whether the second level is below the threshold; and   responsive to a determination that the second level is below the threshold, presenting the first copy of the particular image in place of the second copy of the particular image.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the copy of the particular image is the first copy and the selected location is a first selected location, and wherein presenting the copy of the particular image at the selected location and the size received in the layout comprises:
 presenting the first copy of the particular image at the selected location and the size using a display device; and   moving a first image displayed on the display device such that the second copy of a second image received in the layout is presented using the display device, wherein the second copy of the second image has a different desired resolution than the first copy of the particular image.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 determining whether the second copy of the second image is being presented using a particular region of the display device; and 
 responsive to a determination that the second copy of the second image is being presented using the particular region of the display device, requesting a third copy of the second image having a third desired resolution. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the selected location is a first selected location and further comprising:
 responsive to receiving a user input, presenting the copy of the particular image in a location relative to the other images in the number of images.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the selected location of the copy of the particular image has a logical relationship with a number of selected locations of the copies of the other images. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the particular image depicts an assembly having a number of components, and the other images depict the number of components. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the particular image depicts a first portion of a wiring system and the other images depict other portions of the wiring system, wherein the first portion comprises a first number of wires that connects to a second number of wires in at least one portion in the other portions. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the selected location for the particular image is a point in a second image at which a reference to a document is located, and wherein the particular image is the document. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 receiving a user input comprising an activation of the copy of the particular image; and 
 responsive to receiving the user input, presenting the copy of the particular image with a color highlight. 
 
     
     
         30 . A computer program product for managing a number of images comprising:
 a computer recordable storage medium;   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for identifying a plurality of resolutions in which the number of images are to be stored and a style of presentation for the number of images using a policy;   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for storing a plurality of copies of the number of images in the plurality of resolutions; and   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for selecting a copy of a particular image in the number of images for a selected location in a layout defining a presentation for the number of images using the style of presentation, wherein the copy for the particular image has a desired resolution in the plurality of resolutions for the selected location in the layout.   
     
     
         31 . A computer program product for presenting a layout of a number of images comprising:
 a computer recordable storage medium;   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for receiving the layout of the number of images comprising an identifier for a copy of a particular image in the number of images having a desired resolution, a selected location at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to other images in the number of images, and a size at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to copies of the other images in the number of images;   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for requesting the copy of the particular image having the desired resolution using the identifier; and   program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for presenting the copy of the particular image at the selected location and the size received in the layout.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for managing a number of images comprising:
 a storage device containing program code; and a processor unit configured to execute the program code to identify a plurality of resolutions in which the number of images are to be stored and a style of presentation for the number of images using a policy; store a plurality of copies of the number of images in the plurality of resolutions; and select a copy of a particular image in the number of images for a selected location in a layout defining a presentation for the number of images using the style of presentation, wherein the copy for the particular image has a desired resolution in the plurality of resolutions for the selected location in the layout.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the style of presentation is a hierarchy in which the particular image on a first level of the hierarchy comprises additional detail about a second image on a second level of the hierarchy, wherein the second level is higher than the first level in the hierarchy. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the style of presentation is a grid in which the number of images is ordered according to a physical location of an object depicted in the number of images. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the style of presentation comprises the selected location and a relative size for the particular image in the number of images as compared to a second image in the number of images. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the processor unit is further configured to execute the program code to select the desired resolution for the particular image based on the relative size of the particular image in the style of presentation prior to selecting the copy of the particular image in the number of images for the selected location in the layout. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein metadata is associated with the particular image in the number of images, and wherein the processor unit is further configured to execute the program code to select the selected location and the desired resolution for the particular image based on the metadata associated with the particular image. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the metadata associated with the particular image comprises a plurality of coordinates for the selected location. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the metadata associated with the particular image comprises a relative location for the particular image as compared to an image in the number of images. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus for presenting a layout of a number of images comprising:
 a storage device containing program code; and a processor unit configured to execute the program code to receive the layout of the number of images comprising an identifier for a copy of a particular image in the number of images having a desired resolution, a selected location at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to other images in the number of images, and a size at which to present the copy of the particular image relative to copies of the other images in the number of images; request the copy of the particular image having the desired resolution using the identifier; and present the copy of the particular image at the selected location and the size received in the layout.