Abstract: A method and system for providing a user with an album including a plurality of pages is disclosed. The method and system include allowing a user to purchase at least a portion of the album and allowing the user to set a plurality of defaults for the plurality of pages. The at least the portion of the album includes a portion of the plurality of pages. At least one default of the plurality of plurality of defaults is capable of being altered using information provided by the user. The method and system also include receiving from the user the information, if any, and receiving a plurality of images captured using a digital imaging device. The method and system also include altering the at least one default if the user has provided the information. The method and system also include providing a portion of the plurality of pages using the plurality of defaults and allowing the user access to the portion of the album.

Abstract: A method and systems for automatically configuring a hand-held camera to improve quality of an image taken with the camera of a particular subject at a photo opportunity site is disclosed. First, values for a set of camera setting parameters are optimized to enhance image quality of a picture taken at that location are determined. Next, wireless communication with the camera is established, and the set of setting parameter values are pushed to camera via the wireless communication to automatically configure the camera to take a picture of the subject.

Abstract: A method and system for improving email traffic which can involve portable digital imaging devices is disclosed. In first and second aspects, the method and system allow a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message. A first type of attachment is allowed by the portable digital imaging device. The attachment is described a second type. In the first aspect, the method and system include determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device and providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device only if the first type is the same as the second type.

Abstract: An automated metadata discovery, assignment, and submission system is disclosed. The system includes a photosharing service coupled to a network through a server, where the server stores metadata fields. The system also includes at least one client computer capable of communicating with the server over the network, where the client computer stores a plurality digital files and an automation application. When executed, the automation application establishes communication with the photosharing service and downloads the metadata fields. The content of a first file is then automatically analyzed and one or metadata values are assigned to the downloaded metadata fields based on the analysis. In addition, the automation application automatically discovers any pre-existing metadata values associated with the file and uses the metadata values to populate corresponding downloaded metadata fields. Both the pre-existing and automatically assigned metadata values are then displayed to the user for viewing and editing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing performance of a high-capacity storage media in a digital imaging device. The method aspect of the present invention includes, storing images on the storage media, where the images include tags for categorizing the images. A category list is generated from the tags in the images and the category list is stored on the storage media. A category within the category list is designated as a default category. The method further includes accessing the image category list in order to display the images, wherein only the images belonging to the default category are displayed, thereby speeding access to, and display of, the images.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to image metadata is disclosed, where metadata elements are defined for an image. The method and system include associating users who will access the image with roles, and associating the roles with individual metadata elements. In response to receiving a request for access to the metadata by a particular user, the user's role is determined from the request and the user's role is compared to the roles associated with the metadata elements to determine which metadata elements to make available to the user.

Abstract: A method for efficiently categorizing images on a computer system is disclosed. A series of related images that are to be categorized are ordered by time of capture, and category levels for input of category information by a user are displayed. The category levels include a highest-category level and a lowest-category level, where the highest-category level has a low frequency of data change between the series of related images, and the lowest-category level has a high frequency of data change between the series of images. A first image is then categorized by allowing the user to enter highest-category level data and lowest-category level data. A next image in the series is then categorized by leaving the highest-category level data unchanged, and automatically selecting the lowest-category level data for reentry by the user, thereby eliminating the need for the user to reenter the highest-category level data.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a network-based photosharing service is disclosed. The photosharing service includes a central photosharing site having a server, and a plurality of peer nodes each containing digital images. The method and system include associating metadata with each image that is to be shared. The images are shared by uploading the metadata associated with each image from the peer nodes to the peer server, while maintaining storage of the images on the respective peer nodes. In response to the peer server receiving search criteria based on the metadata submitted from a first one of the peer nodes, the peer server returns a list of image locators for images matching the search criteria to the first peer node. The method and system further include dynamically generating on the first peer node an image album that contains at least a portion of the matching images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network using the user account. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts. The presence of account information on the electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and information uniquely identifying the electronic device is sent to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the electronic device information. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password.

Abstract: A method for executing searches for resources that span more than one private resource repository in a restricted-access resource sharing system is disclosed. The system includes at least one server node and multiple peer nodes connected to a network. Resources, such as data digital images, may be retrieved from the nodes based by issuing queries containing terms matching the metadata associated with the resources. The method includes maintaining storage of resources and associated metadata on respective peer nodes, wherein the associated metadata is based on at least one metadata vocabulary. Each of the peer nodes is allowed to indicate to the server that the metadata vocabularies associated with the resources are designated as private, thereby becoming a restricted access peer node.

Abstract: A method and system for data collection and workflow management in a business process using the Internet includes: defining a plurality of steps of a business process on a network; and automatically implementing the plurality of steps, including sending a request for data, receiving the data with tags, where the tags comprise identifying information concerning the data, and storing the data based on the tags. The method and system include the ability to integrate a digital image capture device into the business process, where the web server creates an executable file which is downloadable into the digital image capture device. The executable file creates tags for the digital images captured by the digital image capture device. The web server uses these tags to match an image to corresponding stored data. In this manner, there is less chance of confusion or mistake, and the speed of performance is also increased.

Abstract: A system for creation of an image display such as an electronic postcard. The system interacts with a user to create and configure the display. The user provides the image data to the system and optionally specifies a message and addressee for the image display. The system creates the display, comprising a mixture of image and textual data, and sends a notification including identification of the display to a specified addressee, for instance, the recipient of the postcard. The addressee can then request receipt of the display from the system via the identification information sent by the system.

Abstract: A meta-application architecture for integrating photo-service-based websites is disclosed. The online system includes a plurality of client devices capable of storing and displaying digital images, wherein a portion of the client devices communicate data in different formats. The system also includes a plurality of online photo-service sites, wherein each of the photo-service sites utilize different data models. The online system further includes a server for communicating with both the client devices and the photo-service sites over a network. A meta-application is also provided that is accessible by the server for defining a common data model format for the different formats of the photo-service sites. In operation, when a request is received from a client device for photo-services from a particular photo-service site, the request is passed to the photo-service site.