Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically displaying variable image content in an image product includes automatically obtaining markers in photos or videos in a user account which includes detecting features in image content of the photos or the video frames and obtaining a marker for one of the photos or the video frames, automatically identifying a sequence of similar photos or videos if the markers detected in the photos or the associated video frames include more than a predetermined number or percentage of common features, detecting a marker in a photo product by a user device when the photo product is viewed by the user device, identifying a marked photo incorporated in the photo product based on the marker detected in the photo product, and enabling photos or videos in a sequence photos or videos associated with the marked photo to be displayed on the user device.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for responding to user behaviors includes storing category specifications for a plurality of categories configured to characterize users, storing categories for users in a computer network system, detecting behaviors of a user in real time, and determining in real time if the behaviors of the user is within a first category specification associated with a first category that the user is tagged with. If the behaviors of the user exceed the first category specification, the method assigns a second category to the user in real time in response to the detected user behaviors.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.

Abstract: A method for organizing images from multiple image capture devices includes automatically determining a coarse offset between image capture times recorded in a first image capture device and image capture times recorded in a second image capture device. The coarse offset is determined by a computing a correlation between image counts of images captured by the first image capture device and images captured by the first image capture device. The method also includes adjusting the image capture times of images recorded in the second image capture device by the coarse offset to produce adjusted image capture times for images captured by the second image capture device.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preventing spam emails from a share site includes providing a network-based computer system to enable users to set up share sites and to send emails from the share sites, detecting potential spam emails based on one or more spam detection rules, identifying false positive emails in the potential spam emails based on one or more false alarm reduction rules, removing false positive emails from the potential spam emails to produce a list of verified spam emails, identifying a sender of the list of verified spam emails as a spammer, and prohibiting the spammer from sending emails from one or more share sites owned spammer.

Abstract: A method for creating a design for an image product includes registering a group of image sources by a network based image service system, wherein the group of image sources comprise a first device and a second device, receiving a notification, by the network based image service system, from the image sources about availabilities of the image sources, representing the second device and a local storage of the first device at a user interface on the first device, indicating an availability status of the second device on the first device, and if the availability status of the second device indicates that the second device is available, allowing a user to browse, on the first device, images stored on the second device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention perform assisted tagging of images, including tagging of people, locations, and activities depicted in those images. A batch of images is received comprising images of faces, including at least some faces that have not yet been tagged. A facial recognition algorithm is applied to the faces to determine matching data comprising possible tags for each untagged face. A logic engine applies logic rules to reduce the likelihood that certain matches are correct. The most likely match from among the possible matches is selected for suggestion to the user for verification. Once verified, the metadata of the image indicating the recognized people within the image is updated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating an image collage includes automatically selecting a first image from the group of images that best fits image-collage template based on predetermined criteria, placing and fitting the first image in the image-collage template, automatically selecting one or more additional images from the group of images that best fits the image-collage template including one or more already placed images that include the first image, and placing and fitting the one or more additional images image in the image-collage template by the computer system. An image collage is formed after all images in the group are placed in the image-collage template.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically displaying variable image content in an image product includes automatically obtaining markers in photos or videos in a user account which includes detecting features in image content of the photos or the video frames and obtaining a marker for one of the photos or the video frames, automatically identifying a sequence of similar photos or videos if the markers detected in the photos or the associated video frames include more than a predetermined number or percentage of common features, detecting a marker in a photo product by a user device when the photo product is viewed by the user device, identifying a marked photo incorporated in the photo product based on the marker detected in the photo product, and enabling photos or videos in a sequence photos or videos associated with the marked photo to be displayed on the user device.

Abstract: System and method for creating a collection of images are described, the method comprising: receiving images from at least one source of images; processing the images to produce an output collection of images, the processing comprising grouping the images to clusters of related images and selecting the preferred images in the clusters; and outputting the output collection of images, the output collection of images comprising the clusters of related images and indication of the preferred images in the clusters. The system for creating a collection of images comprising: a storage medium to receive images from at least one source of images; a processor to produce an output collection of images by grouping the images to clusters of related images and selecting the preferred images in the clusters; and a collection output medium for outputting the output collection of images.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of grouping faces in large user account for creating an image product includes adding the face images obtained from an image album in a user's account into a first chunk; if the chunk size of the first chuck is smaller than a maximum chuck value, keeping the face images from the image album into the first chunk; otherwise, automatically separating the face images from the image album into a first portion and one or more second portions; keeping the first portion in the first chunk; automatically moving the second portions to subsequent chunks; automatically grouping face images in the first chunk to form face groups; assigning the face groups to known face models associated with the user account; and creating a design for an image-based product based on the face images in the first chunk associated with the face models.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design.

Abstract: A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories.

Abstract: A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preventing spam emails from a share site includes providing a network-based computer system to enable users to set up share sites and to send emails from the share sites, detecting potential spam emails based on one or more spam detection rules, identifying false positive emails in the potential spam emails based on one or more false alarm reduction rules, removing false positive emails from the potential spam emails to produce a list of verified spam emails, identifying a sender of the list of verified spam emails as a spammer, and prohibiting the spammer from sending emails from one or more share sites owned spammer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of grouping faces in large user account for creating an image product includes adding the face images obtained from an image album in a user's account into a first chunk; if the chunk size of the first chuck is smaller than a maximum chuck value, keeping the face images from the image album into the first chunk; otherwise, automatically separating the face images from the image album into a first portion and one or more second portions; keeping the first portion in the first chunk; automatically moving the second portions to subsequent chunks; automatically grouping face images in the first chunk to form face groups; assigning the face groups to known face models associated with the user account; and creating a design for an image-based product based on the face images in the first chunk associated with the face models.

Abstract: A method for organizing images from multiple image capture devices includes automatically determining a coarse offset between image capture times recorded in a first image capture device and image capture times recorded in a second image capture device. The coarse offset is determined by a computing a correlation between image counts of images captured by the first image capture device and images captured by the first image capture device. The method also includes adjusting the image capture times of images recorded in the second image capture device by the coarse offset to produce adjusted image capture times for images captured by the second image capture device.