Geo-coding images

Abstract

A unique system, method, and user interface are provided that facilitate more efficient indexing and retrieval of images. In particular, the systems and methods involve annotating or geo-coding images with their location metadata. Geo-coded images can be displayed on a map and browsed or queried based on their location metadata. Images can be annotated one by one or in bulk to reduce repetitiveness and inconsistency among related images. More specifically, selected images can be dropped onto a map, thereby triggering a virtual marker to appear. The virtual marker facilitates pinpointing the precise location associated with the images on the map with a higher level of granularity. The system and method can also generate customized directions and include geo-coded images throughout to serve as visual landmarks. Privacy controls can be employed as well to control access and modification of the images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . One or more computer-storage memory storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method that facilitates geo-based storage and retrieval of images, the method comprising:
 receiving a user selection of one or more images in a photo sharing application;   receiving a user request to drag and drop the one or more images onto a map;   displaying a marker corresponding to each image or group of images;   annotating the image or the group of images corresponding to the marker with geographic location metadata to create a geo-coded image or a group of geo-coded images; and   based on a zoom view of the map, displaying one or more of the marker, the at least one geo-coded image, the group of geo-coded images, or at least one image icon representative of the at least one geo-coded image or the group of geo-coded images on the map at a position indicative of a respective location corresponding to the geographic location metadata associated with the at least one geo-coded image or group of geo-coded images.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 1 , wherein the marker comprises one of a virtual pushpin, flag, or thumbtack. 
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more images included in the user selection are located in an image store. 
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 1 , further comprising verifying a permission level before providing access, editing, or viewing rights to any stored images. 
     
     
         5 . One or more computer-storage memory storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method that facilitates geo-based storage and retrieval of images, the method comprising:
 receiving a user selection of one or more images in a photo sharing application;   receiving a user request to drag and drop the one or more images onto a map;   displaying a marker corresponding to each image or group of images;   annotating the image or the group of images corresponding to the marker with geographic location metadata to create a geo-coded image or a group of geo-coded images; and   receiving a user selection to display the at least one geo-coded image, the group of geo-coded images, or at least one image icon representative of the at least one geo-coded image or the group of geo-coded images on the map, in addition to the marker, at a position indicative of a respective location corresponding to the geographic location metadata associated with the at least one geo-coded image or group of geo-coded images.   
     
     
         6 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 5 , wherein the marker comprises one of a virtual pushpin, flag, or thumbtack. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more images included in the user selection are located in an image store. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer-storage memory of  claim 5 , further comprising verifying a permission level before providing access, editing, or viewing rights to any stored images. 
     
     
         9 . One or more computer-storage memory having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for storing a system that facilitates geo-based storage and retrieval of images, the system comprising:
 a geo-code annotation component that annotates at least one image together with geographic location metadata to create at least one geo-coded image after the at least one image has been dragged and dropped onto a map from a photo sharing application, the dropping of the at least one image onto the map triggers an appearance of a marker on the map at a location corresponding to the geographic location metadata; and   a map-based display component that displays, based on a zoom view of the map, one or more of:
 (1) the marker associated with each of the at least one geo-coded image, and 
 (2) the at least one geo-coded image or at least one image icon representative of the at least one geo-coded image on the map at a position indicative of the location corresponding to the geographic location metadata.