DE202008018328U1 - GPS pre-acquisition for geotagging digital images - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile electronic device comprising: a receiver for obtaining current position data for a current position of the device; a digital camera for taking a digital image; a processor configured to capture user activity with respect to the digital camera; for causing the receiver to initiate capture of current position information for the current position of the device before the digital camera takes an image; and geotagging the digital image with the current position data.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to portable electronic devices equipped with digital cameras, and more particularly to geotagging techniques for such devices.

Some of the new generation of portable electronic devices include both a camera and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver chipset. Examples of these portable electronic devices include GPS-enabled wireless communication devices, PDA pocket PCs or tablets, GPS-enabled camera phones or smartphones, and GPS-enabled cameras. These devices may be made "site-aware" by means of a GPS receiver either embedded as a GPS chipset or externally connected, such as a Bluetooth ^™ -activated GPS puck.

The combination of GPS and camera features allows geotagging (or "geocoding") digital still images, d. H. tagging (or tagging) digital images with geographic information indicating the location where the image was taken. For example, geotagging may involve appending latitude and longitude coordinates to a metadata tag, such as an Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) tag associated with the digital image.

In order for geotagging to be accurate and meaningful, the GPS receiver should be conventionally locked or in contact at the time the image is taken, i.e., at the time the image is captured. H. the GPS receiver must have detected a location so that the current location or location data (for example, location coordinates) can be written to the metadata tag associated with the digital image.

As known, a GPS connection or location determination is obtained by synchronizing with at least four GPS satellite airborne orbits. The time required to calculate the location in a new sync is known as the time-to-first-fix (TTFF) time. Unfortunately, TTFF can be frustratingly long for a variety of reasons, including poor access to the skies (for example, through the action of street canyons or dense foliage) or outdated almanac or ephemeris data at power up.

To initially find the satellites, a GPS receiver typically requires an almanac of satellite location data that is imprecise but valid for several months. When a full reset is made, it takes 12.5 minutes to download the entire Almanac with a maximum waiting time of 25 minutes. The almanac serves as a rough approximation to the satellite location. To obtain a precise determination, the device must also receive ephemeris data from each satellite itself, consisting of very precise orbital and clock correction data at slow 50 bytes per second for a sum of 12 seconds for ephemeris and 6 seconds for clock corrections. When the device retrieves this data directly from a satellite transmission, it operates in an autonomous or single GPS mode, the most common mode of operation. The ephemeris data is cached by the receiver, but becomes obsolete and useless within 3 to 4 hours due to satellite drift due to various sources of error. If the wireless portable device loses synchronization, for example because the user is entering a building or the subway, and the ephemeris becomes outdated, then a warm or cold start condition occurs and new ephemeris must be downloaded again through a full celestial search.

In addition to the latency inherent in the data download, obstructions on the signal path can further extend the TTFF. Satellites send their ephemeris every 30 seconds, 5 times per window. If the signal is interrupted, the receiver must wait for another cycle. Determining a determination can easily take several minutes or more, as the user moves through a street canyon or dense foliage. In a hot start, if current ephemeris data is still available, the time required to determine a determination is reduced to seconds. However, upon a warm start, when a user turns on the portable device or walks out of a building so that the receiver does not have valid ephemeris data in memory, the user may typically need to wait a few minutes before a determination is made. Of course, if both the almanac and the ephemeris are outdated, d. H. in a cold start, the TTFF be frustratingly long.

These TTFF delays preclude instant geotagging of images. If the user wants to capture a geo-tapped image, the camera either remains locked ("frozen") until the GPS location is determined, or the image is taken without GPS connectivity, in which case the image can not be geo-tapped at that time because no GPS determination is available. Thus, if, after the image has been taken, the user is substantially removed from the geographical location where the image was taken, any subsequent GPS Location may be of limited positional accuracy when attempting to geotag the image.

GENERAL

The present technology preferably provides, in general, a portable electronic device such as, for example, a GPS-enabled wireless communication device with an embedded camera, a GPS-enabled camera phone, or a GPS-enabled digital camera configured to provide a GPS device. Determine location for geotagging of images (ie provided with geographic information of images) in advance or to acquire (or obtain). The pre-acquisition of a GPS location determination may include initiating the GPS location determination in anticipation of capturing an image with the camera-enabled device so that geotagging of the image may be prompt. In particular embodiments, the device may be configured to determine whether ephemeris data for geotagging digital images taken with the device's built-in camera must be determined. By monitoring user activity with respect to the camera, such as activation of the camera by a user of the device, the device may begin pre-detecting GPS location determination by determining any required ephemeris data before the image is actually captured. This GPS pre-acquisition can improve the likelihood that a location fix (GPS link) will be achieved at the time the image is taken (to allow immediate geotagging of the digital image). Alternatively, the image may be subsequently geo-tagged by appending the current GPS location to the digital image associated metadata tag. An optional acquisition status indicator may be displayed on a user interface of the device to indicate that a position determination is being made to indicate that accurate geotagging is being performed, or alternatively to alert the user that geotagging is inaccurate or impossible as the interim The time taken to record the image and capture GPS positioning is too long.

Thus, a major aspect of the present technology may be a geotagging approach using a GPS enabled portable electronic device. The approach may include steps of monitoring user activity with respect to a digital camera on the device, initiating detection of GPS positioning prior to capturing a digital image by the digital camera, and geotagging the digital image with GPS positioning.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the technology, the approach may include obtaining ephemeris data for a GPS-enabled handheld electronic device. This particular embodiment of the method may include steps of monitoring user activity with respect to a digital camera on the device to determine whether ephemeris data is needed to acquire a GPS location determination to determine the GPS location determination for the GPS location determination that is for comprising a current location of the device, and for geotagging a digital image taken by the digital camera with the current location of the device.

Another major aspect of the present technology may be a computer program product including code configured to perform the steps of the above procedure when the computer program product is loaded into memory and executed in a processor of a wireless communication device.

Yet another major aspect of the present invention may be a portable electronic device having a GPS receiver for receiving GPS radio signals from GPS satellites in orbit, a camera for capturing a digital image, and a processor coupled to a memory to monitor user activity with respect to the camera and to initiate the detection of GPS positioning prior to capturing the digital image to geotag the digital image based on GPS positioning.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the technology, the apparatus may include a GPS receiver for receiving GPS radio signals from GPS satellites in orbit and further receiving ephemeris data for the GPS satellites, a camera for capturing a digital image and a processor, coupled to a memory for monitoring user activity with respect to the camera and determining whether ephemeris data needs to be determined to obtain the digital image based on GPS location determination acquired for a current location; to geotaggen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description in combination with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

1 Fig. 10 is a flow chart outlining some of the major steps in a procedure for downloading ephemeris data for efficiently geotagging a digital image;

2 Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of some of the main network components used to provide ephemeris data to a wireless communication device illustrated as an example of a portable electronic device in which the present technology can be implemented;

3 Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of some of the main network components used to deliver ephemeris data via supported GPS to a portable electronic device;

4 10 is a block diagram illustrating certain key components of an exemplary GPS enabled wireless communication device illustrated as an example of a portable electronic device in which the present technology may be implemented;

5 Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the components used to monitor user activity on a wireless communication device to determine when to download ephemeris data;

6 an example of a simplified EXIF tag used to geotagging digital images;

7 an example of a user interface for a camera showing a graphical indicator (or icon) indicating that no GPS connection has been acquired;

8th an example of a user interface for a camera showing a graphical indicator (or icon) indicating that a GPS connection has been acquired;

9 another example of a user interface for a camera showing a graphical indicator (or icon) indicating that the GPS acquisition is progressing and further showing an estimated time remaining until acquisition;

10 another example of a user interface for a camera showing a graphical indicator indicating that the image that has just been captured will just be geogagged or geogetaggt;

11 Another example of a user interface for a camera is that displays a graphical indicator indicating that the image that has just been captured can not be geotagged because of the time since the image was taken and the GPS acquired or acquired Connection has elapsed, has exceeded a specified threshold;

12 depicting an example of a camera options interface showing multiple camera-related settings including, again by way of example, a setting for enabling or disabling the geotagging feature; and

13 shows an example of a dialog box that pops up when the geotagging feature is activated.

It will be noted that in all the accompanying drawings, like features are designated by like reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The details and particularities of these aspects of the technology will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 FIG. 10 is a flowchart outlining some of the major steps in a procedure for determining ephemeris data for a GPS enabled portable electronic device.

For purposes of this description, the term "portable electronic device" is intended to encompass a wide range of portable or mobile devices, such as wireless communication devices, GPS equipped PDA pocket PCs or tablets, GPS activated camera phones or smart phones, GPS activated cameras and so on. These devices may be made "site-aware" by means of a GPS receiver embedded either as a GPS chipset or externally connected, for example a Bluetooth ^™ -activated GPS puck.

Although the present disclosure expressly refers to the "global positioning system", it should be understood that this term and its abbreviation "GPS" are used broadly to encompass any satellite-based navigation signal broadcasting system, and therefore include other systems based on to be used throughout the world, including the Beidou (COMPASS) system developed by China, the multinational Galileo system developed by the European Union in cooperation with China, Israel, India, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the Russian GLONASS system India's proposed Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and Japan's proposed QZSS regional system.

As in 1 , illustrates the novel procedure after activating the GPS-enabled portable electronic device (insertion step 10 ) one step 12 for monitoring user activity with respect to a digital camera in the device. For example, user activity with respect to the camera could include activating the camera feature in the device by clicking on a camera icon, selecting a camera function from a menu on the screen, or pressing a dedicated button on the device that activates the camera which either turns on the camera or activates it when it was previously in a hibernate state.

Thus, monitoring user activity with respect to the camera may include having a user monitoring application running in the background device and detecting a user input related to the camera. The user monitoring application, which will also be described later, may then report a user activity related to the camera to the operating system or an intermediate manager initiating detection of a GPS location determination prior to the camera taking a digital image. Initiating the process of detecting a GPS determination before the camera takes the image is referred to herein as "GPS pre-detection". For example, this pre-detection may involve interrogating the GPS driver and / or GPS cache to determine if the GPS is attached or to determine in specific variations of the technology whether the ephemeris data is fresh or outdated , Thus, at step 14 A decision is made as to whether the GPS receiver has a current location. Optionally, this may lead to a determination of whether ephemeris data is needed to capture the GPS location. In other words, at step 14 A decision is made as to whether a location must be detected or geotaggen to geotaggen a digital image taken with the camera. It should be understood that step 14 Optionally, in some sense, in some embodiments (upon detection of a camera-related activity), the application would simply request a GPS determination without asking for the state of the GPS receiver, ie, whether the receiver actually has a current determination, or whether updated ephemerides are needed. In other words, in some embodiments, the GPS receiver would either (i) automatically determine an immediate hot determination, or (ii) continue to download ephemeris data if it is not in a hot start mode. The application would simply wait for the indication that the GPS acquisition is complete.

If at an optional step 14 it is determined that a location determination is currently available, the operations go to step 20 and the device allows the user to capture the image. After that, the picture is taken at step 22 geo-tagged by writing location data into the metadata tag associated with the image, as explained below. If, on the other hand, at step 14 a determination is made that the GPS receiver has no current location determination, that, for example, new ephemeris data is required to acquire a GPS determination, then the device optionally determines at step 16 whether to wait for a GPS location to be detected or whether to get to step immediately 20 should continue to allow the digital image to be captured immediately. Alternatively, the device could take place with step 16 Immediately begin the process of acquiring the GPS determination (and, if necessary, obtaining the ephemeris data, if necessary, for acquiring or obtaining the GPS location determination) without making an explicit request for the availability of a current GPS location determination. If at step 16 a decision is made to await the detection of the GPS location determination, the device then acquires the location determination at step 18 , if necessary, by first determining all required ephemeris data. Once the GPS positioning is done at step 18 is acquired or acquired, the processes go to step 20 at which point the device will take the digital image and then at step 22 can geotaggen the digital image taken by the digital camera with the current location of the device. In other words, as in 1 as soon as the decision to determine a new provision in step 14 an additional optional decision at step 16 whether to wait for completion of GPS acquisition or not before taking a picture is enabled. Nevertheless, even if GPS positioning has not been detected, the device may allow the immediate capture of an image with an optional warning (in that the GPS determination has not yet been acquired), and then the GPS location data after the image has been taken (assuming, for example, that the elapsed time between taking the image and detecting the GPS determination is not too great, in which case the location data appended to the metadata tag of the image is so inaccurate are that they are of limited use). Thus, as in 1 when the device is configured to continue taking a picture without a GPS connection, steps are shown 20 and 22 continue where the picture is taken or geogetaggt. Alternatively, go as in 1 if the device is configured to wait for a GPS determination before allowing the image to be captured, then the operations are shown 18 continue to capture the GPS positioning (GPS connection). In either case, the resulting image may be geo-gated with the current location (for example, by writing the latitude and longitude coordinates in a metadata tag associated with the image). As noted in the previous paragraph, by monitoring camera-related activities, the apparatus predicts that GPS positioning will be required and begins pre-detecting the GPS determination, which need not include an explicit determination as to whether the GPS determination is current or not the ephemeris data is fresh or outdated. In other words, the GPS receiver may simply be awakened to initiate the process of detecting (ie, "pre-detecting") a GPS determination in anticipation of a possible geotagging event. Thus, this GPS pre-detection may or may not lead to the determination of whether ephemeris data is necessary for acquiring GPS location determination, and possibly to determining the ephemeris data to acquire the GPS location determination for a current location the device is representative.

Alternatively, instead of writing the location data into the metadata tag, such as an EXIF tag, the device may generate a separate geotagged file that stores all of the geographic data and from each set of geographic data to each of the digital ones stored in memory in the device Images cross-references created. In other words, a dedicated geotagged file would use any digital image file name (eg, Picture0001.jpg) with a set of GPS coordinates or other location data (eg, Wide. = Xx.xx.xx, Long. = Xx. xx.xx). Alternatively, two separate files could be used with an index, code, or other means to associate the image files with each set of location data (stored in a separate location data file).

The above approach can be implemented as coded instructions in a computer program product. In other words, the computer program product is a computer readable medium on which software code is recorded to perform the above steps when the computer program product is loaded into the memory and executed on the microprocessor of the portable electronic device.

The above procedure can also be found in one of the in 2 or 3 shown example networks and / or in 4 illustrated exemplary portable electronic device implemented. Of course, it should be appreciated that this novel approach can be implemented in any number of other wireless networks or in any number of other GPS and camera-enabled devices with or without wireless (ie, cellular) connectivity. For example, this technology can be implemented in a GPS-enabled camera that does not have an RF transceiver for wireless communication. However, in specific embodiments that use supported GPS, a wireless transceiver would be required to receive support data.

2 FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of exemplary network components including a GPS enabled wireless communication device. FIG 100 or other GPS-enabled portable electronic device to geotaggen digital images that have been taken by means of a camera in the device. It can only be repeated that the wireless communication device 100 only as an example of a portable electronic device in which the present technology can be implemented. As in 2 shown, the wireless communication device 100 via voice and data channels with a base station 210 communicate, which is part of a wireless network 200 is. The wireless network 200 is with a data network (for example the internet) 300 connected. Optionally, an application gateway (Applications Gateway, AG) 310 between the data network 300 and the wireless network 200 be provided to mediate and optimize the data flow by mapping complex data structures on structures that are optimized for wireless, and vice versa. Optionally, the wireless communication device 100 with a relay or network control center (NOC) 240 communicatively linked using e-mail push techniques, which are now very well known in the art. As in 2 Further illustrated, the GPS-enabled wireless communication device 100 using GPS radio signals from at least four GPS satellites 400 in orbit as well as being well understood in the art.

3 Figure 13 is a schematic representation of some of the major network components used to deliver ephemeris data (for a supported GPS) to a portable electronic device, such as the GPS-enabled wireless communication device shown in this figure 100 , 3 thus shows in addition to all in 2 shown network components a satellite receiver 410 for collecting GPS ephemeris data and an ephemeris data center 420 to receive this ephemeris data. The ephemeris data center 420 is communicative with a broadcast server 430 connected the ephemeris data or support data ("A-GPS data") over the data network 300 and wireless network 200 to the wireless communication device 100 to provide the support data (ie, provide the device's ephemeris data over the cellular connection rather than via satellite download). In one embodiment, the NOC receives 240 regular ephemeris updates from the broadcast server 430 (over the data network 300 ).

The ephemeris data could be transferred to the handsets in a number of standard ways, such as by downloading the data file via TCP / IP. For example, with the support of the Standards Institute (SUPL), extended ephemeris could be transmitted directly from a site server called Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) to the mobile handset client using secure end-to-end IP connectivity. The timely delivery of ephemeris updates ("support data") thus helps to effectively overcome the performance limitations of conventional GPS, thereby improving GPS sensitivity while enabling operation in difficult signal conditions such as urban canyons or dense foliage.

Although support data is very useful, it should be appreciated that the present technology can be implemented without any A-GPS support data. In other words, a single GPS may be used to geotag images by means of the pre-detection or pre-emptive techniques described herein, without resorting to A-GPS. 2 and 3 were thus presented purely for the purpose of illustrating two different examples of networks in which this technology can be implemented.

4 FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating certain major components of an example of a portable electronic device, which in this particular illustration is a GPS enabled wireless communication device 100 is. It should be expressly understood that this figure is intentionally simplified to show only certain components. The device 100 may include other components besides those shown in this figure. The device 100 includes a microprocessor 102 (or simply a "processor") that works with the memory in the form of RAM 104 and flash memory 106 interacts as is well known in the art. The device 100 includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 108 for wireless communication with base stations 210 over cellular frequencies. The device 100 includes a GPS receiver chipset 110 for receiving GPS radio signals transmitted by one or more GPS satellites in orbit. For input / output devices or user interfaces, the device includes 100 typically a display device 112 (For example, a small LCD screen), a thumbwheel and / or a trackball 114 , a keyboard 116 , a USB 118 or serial port for connection to peripherals, a speaker 120 and a microphone 122 ,

Optionally, the device may include a touchscreen or a touch-sensitive LCD interface that functions as both a display and a user input device. In addition, the device includes 100 a digital camera 124 which is preferably embedded or incorporated in the device, of the type that is now commonly found in many smartphones or hand-held devices. This digital camera, which is usually a multi-megapixel camera, may have a built-in flash if necessary. As will be appreciated, the camera can also be external to the device 100 over the USB 118 or via a Bluetooth ^™ connection.

As will be appreciated, a user of this device may 100 the camera by handling the keyboard 116 or the thumbwheel / trackball 114 enable to start a camera application. Alternatively, the wireless portable device may include a dedicated button for activating the camera. Once the camera is turned on, the viewfinder will appear on the LCD screen 112 presented as part of a camera user interface. An example of a camera user interface is in 7 illustrated. Of course, for a GPS-enabled camera, such as the Ricoh 500SE GPS-ready digital camera, which has a detachable GPS module, there is no "camera application" per se, since the whole Device is a camera. Thus, simply turning on the camera causes the GPS driver to judge whether ephemeris data must be downloaded immediately in anticipation of taking a picture. To repeat, the portable electronic device includes 100 therefore a GPS receiver 110 for receiving GPS radio signals from GPS satellites in orbit and further receiving ephemeris data for the GPS satellites, a camera 124 for taking a digital image and one with the memory 104 . 106 coupled processor 102 to monitor user activity with respect to the camera 124 and determining whether ephemeris data for geotagging the digital image must be determined based on a GPS location detected for a current location.

5 Figure 13 is a block diagram illustrating the components used to monitor user activity with respect to the camera ("camera-related activity") in a wireless communication device 100 or other portable electronic device may be used to determine when to download preventive ephemeris data to effectively enable geotagging of digital images captured by the camera. The usual scenario involves activating or waking the camera (or launching the associated camera application) by the user. This is detected as an event requiring verification by the device that it has a GPS connection to geotagging the image. If a GPS connection can be quickly determined, then the image can be accurately and immediately geogetaggt. Otherwise, the geotagging can also be done, but only afterwards. For example, even if a quick snapshot is taken before the GPS link is detected, the precision of any subsequent geotagging is improved because the device that anticipated the need for GPS data already begins the process of acquiring ephemeris data as needed and recorded a GPS determination. Thus, if the user moves away from the location where the quick snapshot was taken, the resulting location error is minimized.

5 shows a particular embodiment of camera-related activity monitoring on a GPS enabled portable electronic device 100 , In this particular embodiment, device components are arranged to allow the device to monitor user activity with respect to the camera in the device. This particular component arrangement is shown purely by way of example. As in the particular embodiment, the in 5 shown, an operating system (OS) interacts 150 with a GPS driver 154 for driving a GPS receiver chipset 110 , A GPS cache 130 caches ephemeris data obtained through satellite download (single mode) or via wireless (cellular) connection (support data for supported GPS), also in flash memory 106 can be stored. These ephemeris data (which define where the satellites are in orbit) are used by the GPS driver and GPS receiver chipset to determine location for the device based on the elapsed travel time for each of the received GPS signals (using trilateration techniques which are well known in the art).

As continues in the in 5 shown particular embodiment, transmits a camera application 160 that has an enabled geotagging feature requests GPS location data to the API 152 (eg Java JSR 179), the GPS data from the GPS cache 130 receives. If there is no GPS connection, then new GPS location data must be determined. In that case, the GPS driver will work with the GPS receiver chipset to determine a new GPS determination and, if necessary, to determine new ephemeris data to make GPS detection possible.

As in 5 shown, the camera application can 160 from a dedicated user activity monitoring application 170 monitoring the camera application and requests made by the camera application to the API. The user activity monitoring application may be integrated as a module or component of the camera application itself, the API or other components.

In normal operation of this particular embodiment of the technology, ephemeris data is preemptively downloaded based on any camera-related user activity, such as starting the camera application. Starting the camera application 160 For example, would a request to the API 152 (eg Java JSR 179) for GPS data. The request would come from the user activity monitoring application 170 be logged in. The API 152 is preferably between the operating system 150 and the camera application 160 So all GPS requests go through this API. All location requests from the camera application 160 to the API 152 go over the OS 150 to the GPS driver 154 , as in 5 shown then with the GPS chipset 110 communicated. The API in this example is Java JSR 179. JSR 179 ("Location API") is a specification that defines a common API for retrieving location information on a variety of GPS embedded mobile phones, PDAs, handheld devices, and other such devices.

Similarly, when a camera application is started or repeatedly used during a given period of time, the user activity monitoring application monitors 170 the use of the camera application 160 either directly or (indirectly) through the requests that the camera application 160 through the API 152 to the GPS driver 154 according to GPS data. In other words, login / monitoring requests are provided by the API 152 To enable the GPS driver GPS determinations from the GPS chipset 110 provides an indication of user activity and allows the user activity monitoring application 170 To identify usage patterns for the camera application or for GPS inquiries in general.

For example, the user activity monitoring application 170 Compile behavioral data about the usage patterns of the camera. An algorithm (or even an artificial intelligence module) used in the monitoring application 170 integrated, could then try to develop correlations between camera usage (captured images) and date, time, and location parameters.

For example, an analysis of the history of use of the camera could show that whenever the location of the device changes radically with respect to a location to which the user has never gone, the user tends to take a picture when turning on the device (For example, when leaving an aircraft on a holiday in a new country), but that only occurs when the time of day is in the daylight hours. As another example, the device could further observe that there is a delay in radically changing global locations (corresponding to the arrival at the airport) in which no images are taken, but that when moving again to another location (eg, outside airport) image capture activity typically begins. This would provide a possible keyword for the device to check its ephemeris and determine a GPS determination.

As yet another example, the device could observe that images are often taken on the first day of Christmas, but always at the user's home address. Therefore, the device might conclude that while these are "family images", ephemeris data is unnecessary, as the user is unlikely to worry about geotagging images he has taken in his own home.

The user activity monitoring application 170 may also, in a variant of this embodiment, extract information from a calendar application to a keyword search for specific events that might be "image processes" that require geotagging, such as "graduation", "baptism", "wedding", "family picnic", " Excursion, holiday, tour, vacation, etc. In some of these cases, geotagging may or may not be appropriate or desirable, and the artificial intelligence of the device may attempt to guess whether ephemerides should be detected preventively.

6 is an example of a simplified EXIF tag used to geotagging digital images. The exchangeable image file format (EXIF) is a specification used by digital cameras that uses existing JPEG, TIFF, Rev. 6.0, and RIFF WAVE file formats with the addition of specific metadata tags. Typically, an EXIF metadata tag includes tags for manufacturer, model, orientation, software, date and time, YCbCR positioning, compression, x-resolution, y-resolution, resolution unit, exposure time, F-number, exposure program, Exif Version, Component Configuration, Compressed Bits Per Pixel, Exposure Slope, Maximum Aperture, Metering Mode, Flash, Focal Length, MakerNote, FlashPix Version, Color Space, PixelXDimension, PixelYDimension, File Source, Interoperability Index, and Interoperability Version. This in 6 EXIF tag presented is intentionally simplified to show just a few of the main tags. In addition, however, the EXIF tag may be modified to include geotagging data, such as by providing latitude and longitude fields. Optionally, one or more additional fields may be provided to store a street address, city, province, state or country associated with the geo-coordinates. This address and city information can be obtained by reverse geocoding (ie looking up the coordinates in a database of addresses associated with coordinates). As in 6 For example, the latitude and longitude can be represented in GPS coordinates, for example, 45 degrees 54.314 minutes N and 77 degrees 30.987 minutes W. For example, if the latitude is expressed as 39 degrees 54.333 minutes, it means that the seconds (32) are in decimal format be converted (0.333). Alternatively, in the EXIF tag, these may be expressed as degrees minutes seconds - GG MM SS (eg 39 54 32 W) or as decimal degrees (eg 39.909 degrees) where the minutes and seconds (54 32) are in decimal format (0.909) are converted.

7 is an example of a user interface for a camera showing a graphical indicator (or icon or icon) indicating that no GPS connection has been detected. In this example, the camera interface points 500 a viewfinder 502 , an upper information bar 504 (with optional date, time and battery status indicators) and a lower information bar 506 (with optional information regarding the camera such as zoom, flash, etc.). An optional camera icon 508 can indicate that the camera has been activated. In addition, the bottom bar has 506 a GPS attachment "icon" (icon) 510 , which shows in this case that no GPS connection has been detected. If the GPS is not tethered, the device may either freeze the camera to prevent an image from being taken until the GPS is tethered or, alternatively, the device may allow the camera to capture the image and then geotag it later , ie add the geo coordinates afterwards.

8th is an example of a user interface 500 for a camera that has a graphical indicator (or icon) 512 which indicates that a GPS connection has been detected. In this particular embodiment, the "untied" icon transforms 510 in "Tailed" icon 512 or is replaced by it. Once a GPS connection is reached, images can be geogagged immediately.

9 is another example of a user interface 500 for a camera that has a graphical indicator (or icon) 514 which indicates that a GPS connection is progressing and further shows an estimated time remaining until detection. In this example, the "time to determination" shows that a GPS connection is achieved in 10 seconds. This is a useful feature as it informs the user that he or she only has to wait 10 seconds before a picture can be taken. Also, the user can quickly take a picture preventively, knowing that the GPS connection is imminent and that geotagging will be accurate, provided that he or she does not move significantly in the next 10 seconds (or whatever time until Detection of GPS positioning is displayed remaining).

10 is another example of a user interface 500 for a camera that has a graphic indicator 516 which indicates that the image being recorded or being taken will be geo-gagged. It is useful for the user to know where geotagging is functional or feasible. In certain cases, the user takes a quick snapshot and then moves away from where the image was taken. The GPS receiver detects a determination a few minutes later. Depending on how far the user has left, the geotagging can be done later. The device may be configured to apply a specified threshold (a maximum elapsed time) after which geotagging does not occur or only upon the user's insistence. Conversely, if the device obtains a determination within a reasonable time that is less than the predetermined threshold, the "geotag" icon indicates that geotagging is in progress or will occur.

11 is another example of a user interface 500 for a camera that has a graphic indicator 518 which indicates that the image that was just taken can not be geo-tagged because the time elapsed since the acquisition and acquisition of the GPS link has exceeded a predetermined threshold, as discussed in the previous paragraph.

12 shows an example of a camera option interface 600 showing multiple camera-related settings including, again by way of example, a setting 602 to enable or disable the geotagging feature.

13 shows an example of a dialog box 604 which above the options interface 600 unfolds when the geotagging feature is activated. This is an optional dialog box. Of course, the device may be pre-configured to accept activation of the geotagging feature without consulting the user in this manner. Similarly, a similar dialog box could be used if the user desires to disable the geotag feature. In a further variant, the device could only poll the user if enabling or disabling the geotagging feature conflicts with the usage patterns or behaviors as determined by the device or artificial intelligence included in the user activity monitoring application 170 is installed as described above.

This new technology has been described in terms of specific embodiments and configurations, which are intended to be purely exemplary. The scope of the applicant's exclusive intellectual property rights should therefore be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (42)

A mobile electronic device comprising: a receiver for obtaining current position data for a current position of the device; a digital camera for taking a digital image; a processor configured to capture user activity with respect to the digital camera; for causing the receiver to initiate capture of current position information for the current position of the device before the digital camera takes an image; and geotagging the digital image with the current position data. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein initiating the acquisition of current position data comprises obtaining assistance data for a satellite-based navigation signal broadcasting system. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein initiating acquisition of current position data comprises obtaining global positioning system (GPS) ephemeris data. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein initiating acquisition of current location data comprises obtaining data for the current location from a server. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection of current position data is initiated when the digital camera is activated. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects a user activation of the digital camera. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor detects a user activation of a camera application. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor monitors a usage pattern of the digital camera. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection of current position data is initiated based on a comparison of a historical usage with one of a current location and a time. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein initiating detection of current position data comprises activating a GPS receiver. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera takes an image. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera captures an image before completing the detection of a position determination. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein initiating the detection of current position data comprises detecting a position determination. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to associate an image captured by the digital camera with the acquired current position data. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device displays an indication of a detection status for the current position data. The mobile electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that GPS detection is progressing. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that a GPS connection has been detected. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that a GPS connection has not been detected. The mobile electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the indication of the detection status is selected from the group comprising: an indication that a picture taken by the camera is geotagged; an indication that an image taken by the camera will be geotagged; and a display warning that a time elapsed between the taking of an image and a subsequent position determination has exceeded a specified threshold. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the image is a digital photograph. A computer readable medium having code that, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a mobile electronic device, causes the device to perform the operations: Detecting user activity with respect to a digital camera of the device; before the digital camera captures an image, initiating capture of current position data for a current position of the device; and Geotagging the digital image with the current position data. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein initiating the detection of current position data comprises obtaining support data for a satellite-based navigation signal broadcasting system. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein initiating the acquisition of current position data comprises obtaining global positioning system (GPS) ephemeris data. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein initiating the acquisition of current position data comprises obtaining data for the current position from a server. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the detection of current position data is initiated when the digital camera is activated. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein detecting user activity comprises detecting user activation of the digital camera. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein detecting user activity comprises detecting user activation of a camera application. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein detecting user activity comprises monitoring a usage pattern of the digital camera. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the acquisition of current position data is initiated based on a comparison of historical usage with one of a current location and a time. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein initiating the acquisition of current position data comprises activating a GPS receiver. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising capturing an image with the digital camera. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising capturing an image with the digital camera prior to completing detection of a position determination. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein initiating the acquisition of current position data comprises detecting a position determination. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising associating an image captured by the digital camera with the acquired current position data. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising displaying an indication of a detection status for the current position data. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that GPS acquisition is progressing. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that a GPS connection has been detected. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the indication of the detection status includes an indication that a GPS connection has not been detected. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the indication of the detection status is selected from the group comprising: an indication that an image captured by the camera is geotagged; an indication that an image taken by the camera will be geotagged; and a display warning that a time elapsed between the taking of an image and a subsequent position determination has exceeded a specified threshold. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the image is a digital photograph. An electronic device comprising: a receiver for obtaining current position data for a current position of the device; a digital camera for taking a digital image; a processor configured to capture user activity with respect to the digital camera; and cause the receiver to initiate capture of current position information for the current position of the device before the digital camera takes an image. A computer-readable medium having code that, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a mobile electronic device, causes the device to perform the operations of: detecting user activity with respect to a digital camera of the device; and before the digital camera takes an image, initiating capture of current position data for a current position of the device.

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