Method and system for organizing digital files

Abstract

A device for organizing digital files is provided, wherein tagging data is applied to a sequence of image files previously captured by and received from an imaging device. A tagging image having tagging data therein is preferably provided before or after the sequence, or both. A text recognizing technology may be used to extract the tagging data from a tagging image. For example, if a tagging image is taken on a camera prior to a sequence of images, the device may extract tagging data from the tagging image and apply such tagging data to the sequence of image files. Preferably, the device provides for renaming of the image files utilizing the tagging data.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A data association device for associating data to image files, the device comprising:
 a file receiving mechanism configured to receive a plurality of image files previously captured by an imaging device;   a storage medium configured to store one or more of said plurality of image files; and   a processing mechanism configured to
 identify, among said plurality of image files, one or more tagging image files having a text image, wherein said text image comprises text including data for a set of image files; 
 extract said data from the text; 
 associate said data to said set of images files; and 
 save said set of image files having said data associated therewith onto the storage medium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism names said image files based on said data. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism is automated. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display for displaying the contents of the storage mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism changes the names of the set of image files from the initial file names retrieved by the receiving mechanism into file names based on said data. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further wherein the set of image files is a series of consecutive image files. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism is further configured to identify a series of image files between two tagging image files. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism associates data from a first tagging image file to a first set of image files, wherein the first set of image files immediately follows the first tagging image and precedes a second tagging image file. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing mechanism
 identifies a first tagging image having a first data and a second tagging image having a second data, wherein the set of image files is preceded by the first tagging image and followed by the second tagging image; and   associates the first data and the second data to the set of image files.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a computer. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising an Internet-capable device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a user interface configured to permit a user to provide instructions for naming the image files. 
     
     
         13 . A method of associating data to digital image files, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of digital image files in sequence, each digital image file having a file data, said plurality of digital image files having been previously captured by an imaging device;   among said plurality of digital image files, identifying one or more tagging image files having an image of a text;   recognizing said text; and   applying at least a portion of said text to the file data of one or more digital image files proceeding said one or more tagging image files.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying a portion of said text to the file data includes naming the one or more digital image file. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a naming convention from a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising saving the one or more digital image files to a storage medium after applying said text to the file data.