Patents Assigned to Getty Images, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10445359
    Abstract: A hardware and software facility for classifying media content units using keywords from a structured vocabulary. Metadata associated with each media content unit is segmented into a series of descriptive phrases. The descriptive phrases are mapped to keywords in a structured vocabulary, and the identified keywords associated with the media content units. Descriptive phrases that are not found in the structured vocabulary are tracked as candidate phrases for later addition to the structured vocabulary. A keyword index to the media content units may be constructed. The index is used to identify specific media content units that are responsive to search queries in a reliable and accurate fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Bjarnestam, Mary Forster, Nate Gandert, Steven F. Heck, Ziji Huang, Monika MacGuffie, Alvin Nance, Thomas M. O'Leary
  • Patent number: 9665642
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Heck
  • Patent number: 9229992
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Heck
  • Publication number: 20140330820
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: GETTY IMAGES, INC.
    Inventor: Steven F. Heck
  • Patent number: 8644646
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Heck
  • Patent number: 8571329
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of digital content items includes a process for analyzing digital content items to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a set of ordered values representing digital content item features desired by the user. The constructed set of ordered values is compared to sets of ordered values corresponding to digital content items in the database of digital content items, and digital content items are retrieved with sets of ordered values corresponding to the constructed set of ordered values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130094760
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GETTY IMAGES, INC.
    Inventor: GETTY IMAGES, INC.
  • Patent number: 8285082
    Abstract: A system for identifying digital content related to a portion of a block of text receives, automatically or via input by a user, an indication of one or more words included in the block of text. The system searches a database of digital content based on the one or more words and retrieves from the database one or more digital content items or identifiers of digital content items that are related to the one or more words. The system provides the retrieved digital content items or identifiers to the user, and receives a selection of one or more of the provided items or identifiers from the user. The system associates for display or replay the one or more selected digital content items with the one or more words in the block of text. Other embodiments of the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Heck
  • Publication number: 20120237119
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of digital content items includes a process for analyzing digital content items to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a set of ordered values representing digital content item features desired by the user. The constructed set of ordered values is compared to sets of ordered values corresponding to digital content items in the database of digital content items, and digital content items are retrieved with sets of ordered values corresponding to the constructed set of ordered values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly Thompson
  • Patent number: 8144995
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of images or other digital content includes a process for analyzing images to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a profile matrix representing image features desired by the user. The constructed profile matrix is compared to profile matrices of the database of images, and images are retrieved with profile matrices corresponding to the constructed profile matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100131547
    Abstract: A method, system, and metadata model is provided that allows for the organization of electronic assets, such as songs, videos, documents, images, etc. Virtual libraries are created based on virtual copies of assets created based on metadata, thereby avoiding copying of the actual assets. The metadata model also facilitates searching for assets from the virtual libraries and the implementation of permissioning schemes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Magrath, Lawrence Crowther, Chris Borrett, Lawrence Mount, Dave Piggin
  • Patent number: 7523102
    Abstract: A search facility provides searching capabilities in languages such as Japanese. The facility may use a vocabulary knowledge base organized by concepts. For example, each concept may be associated with at least one keyword (as well as any synonyms or variant forms) by applying one or more rules that relate to identifying common main forms, script variants, alternative grammatical forms, phonetic variants, proper noun variants, numerical variants, scientific name, cultural relevance, etc. The contents of the vocabulary knowledge base are then used in executing search queries. A user may enter a search query in which keywords (or synonyms associated with those key words) may be identified, along with various stopwords that facilitate segmentation of the search query and other actions. Execution of the search query may result in a list of assets or similar indications being returned, which relate to concepts identified within the search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Bjarnestam, Monika MacGuffie, David Carothers
  • Patent number: 6735583
    Abstract: A computer-based method and system for classifying and locating media content is provided. In preferred embodiments, a dynamically modifiable, structured vocabulary system is used to drive a media classification and search system. An exemplary embodiment of the media classification and search system includes media content unit classification services, a media content unit search engine, and one or more data repositories, including typically a media content unit collection, metadata, the vocabulary, and a term-to-media content reverse index. The structured vocabulary provides a classification system, whose structure and relationships can be altered independently of the media content being classified, thus enabling tuning of the system without needing to reclassify data. The use of the structured vocabulary also increases the rate of success and efficiency in matching search requests to locate media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Getty Images, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Bjarnestam, Karina Holm, Alan Capel, William G. Kuhn, Jason Staczek