Visualizing digital images on a map

Abstract

A computer based, digital image management system that visually presents an entire archive in a manner that facilitates easy, non-textual, searching for specific images. In one embodiment, the system includes two elements: a file management methodology and a graphical user interface. The file management method utilizes reference files that contain multiple properties (metadata) relating to each image file. Image files are grouped into a multiplicity of collections based on user-defined associations of the properties. The graphical user interface visually represents the groups of image files on 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional graphic metaphors. In addition, the graphical interface uses multiple display variables such as icons, mnemonics, size, movement, color, and luminance to signify relationships between groups, and/or communicate key properties of individual or groups of images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of an electronic controller presenting a collection of digital images comprising the steps of:
 (A) retrieving digital image files; and   (B) displaying iconic representations of the images files in a visual metaphor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 (C) the electronic controller being responsive to user input by opening a file selected by a user. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein iconic representations of image files are displayed along a timeline visual metaphor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein iconic representations of image files are displayed on a map. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein iconic representations of image files are displayed in association with a human relationship metaphor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the human relationship metaphor is a family tree. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein iconic representations of image files are displayed using an emotional state metaphor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the emotional state metaphor includes a representation of a human face and iconic representations of image files are visually associated with the representation of a human face. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein iconic representations of image files are displayed using a metaphor that indicates relative importance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the metaphor employed is relative size, whereby a larger iconic representation indicates that the image file contained therein are of more interest to a user than the image file contents of a smaller iconic representation. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images comprising:
 an electronic controller configured to retrieve digital image files;   the electronic controller configured to display iconic representations of the images files in a visual metaphor; and   the electronic controller being responsive to user input by opening a file selected by a user.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display iconic representations of image files along a timeline visual metaphor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display iconic representations of image files on a map. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display iconic representations of image files in association with a human relationship metaphor. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images comprising of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display iconic representations of image files using an emotional state metaphor. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images comprising of  claim 11  wherein the electronic controller is configured to interactively display iconic representations of image files using a metaphor that indicates relative importance. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for presenting a collection of digital images of  claim 16  wherein the electronic controller is configure to interactively display iconic representations of image files, whereby a larger iconic representation indicates that the image file contained therein are of more interest to a user than the image file contents of a smaller iconic representation. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having program code embodied in the medium, the program code comprising:
 program code that retrieves digital image files program code that interactively displays iconic representations of the images files in a visual metaphor; and   program code that is responsive to user input by opening a file selected by a user.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18  wherein the code comprises:
 program code that interactively displays iconic representations of image files along a timeline visual metaphor. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18  wherein the code comprises:
 program code that interactively displays iconic representations of image files on a map. 
 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 18  wherein the code comprises:
 program code that interactively displays iconic representations of image files in association with a human relationship metaphor.