U.S. patent application number 15/144176 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for contextual determination of user photos.
The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Christopher J. Hardee, Steven R. Joroff, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Scott E. Schneider.
Application Number | 20170132176 15/144176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58663790 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170132176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hardee; Christopher J. ; et
al. |
May 11, 2017 |
CONTEXTUAL DETERMINATION OF USER PHOTOS
Abstract
A computer detects one or more images, wherein detecting the one
or more images further includes identifying one or more
characteristics of at least a portion of the one or more images.
The computer detects one or more user communications. The computer
determines one or more appropriate images of the one or more images
to be associated with the one or more user communications based on
comparing information associated with the one or more user
communications with the identified one or more characteristics of
at least a portion of the one or more images.
Inventors: |
Hardee; Christopher J.;
(Raleigh, NC) ; Joroff; Steven R.; (Tokyo, JP)
; Nesbitt; Pamela A.; (Ridgefield, CT) ;
Schneider; Scott E.; (Rolesville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58663790 |
Appl. No.: |
15/144176 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14934376 |
Nov 6, 2015 |
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15144176 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 40/10 20200101;
G06K 9/6267 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101; G06K 9/6215 20130101;
G06F 40/30 20200101; G06K 9/2054 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/21 20060101
G06F017/21; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; G06K 9/20 20060101
G06K009/20 |
Claims
1. A method for identifying an image, comprising the steps of: a
computer detecting one or more images, wherein the one or more
images includes a plurality of user images on websites, social
media applications, and computing devices, and wherein detecting
the one or more images further includes identifying one or more
characteristics of at least a portion of the one or more images;
the computer dynamically detecting one or more user communications
on a third-party forum; and the computer determining one or more
characteristics associated with the one or more user communications
by utilizing natural language processing techniques to analyze the
content of the dynamically detected one or more user
communications; the computer determining one or more
characteristics of one or more recipients intended to receive the
dynamically detected one or more user communications; the computer
determining a sentiment of the dynamically detected one or more
user communications; the computer determining a type of forum
associated with the dynamically detected one or more user
communications; the computer determining one or more appropriate
images based on the plurality of user images on websites, social
media applications, and computing devices, to be associated with
the dynamically detected one or more user communications based on
the determined one or more characteristics associated with the
dynamically detected one or more user communications, the
determined one or more characteristics of the one or more
recipients intended to receive the dynamically detected one or more
user communications, the determined sentiment of the dynamically
detected one or more user communications, and the determined type
of forum associated with the dynamically detected one or more user
communications with the identified one or more characteristics of
at least a portion of the one or more images; and the computer
dynamically transmitting the determined one or more appropriate
images to the dynamically detected one or more user communications.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to attributes of user photos,
and more particularly to determining appropriate user photos based
on context.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the digital age, the utilization of photos when
commenting in or participating in an internet based communication,
such as a forum or social media feed. There are hardly any users
that choose not to add the personal touch of a photo to comments
and personal pages such as social media pages. The utilization of a
photo in association with a comment not only adds life to the
comment but allows other users to have a glimpse into the life of
the user.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention provides a method, system, and
computer program product identifying an image. A computer detects
one or more images, wherein detecting the one or more images
further includes identifying one or more characteristics of at
least a portion of the one or more images. The computer detects one
or more user communications. The computer determines one or more
appropriate images of the one or more images to be associated with
the one or more user communications based on comparing information
associated with the one or more user communications with the
identified one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the
one or more images.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an image system, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of the
image program of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting the hardware components
of the image system of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying Figures.
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates image system 100, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, image
system 100 includes computing device 110 and server 120
interconnected via network 130.
[0009] In the exemplary embodiment, network 130 is the Internet,
representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways to
support communications between devices connected to the Internet.
Network 130 may include, for example, wired, wireless or fiber
optic connections. In other embodiments, network 130 may be
implemented as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide
area network (WAN). In general, network 130 can be any combination
of connections and protocols that will support communications
between computing device 110 and server 120.
[0010] Server 120 may be a desktop computer, a notebook, a laptop
computer, a tablet computer, a handheld device, a smart-phone, a
thin client, or any other electronic device or computing device
system capable of receiving and sending data to and from other
computing devices, such as computing device 110 via a network, such
as network 130. Although not shown, optionally, server 120 can
comprise a cluster of web devices executing the same software to
collectively process requests. Server 120 is described in more
detail with reference to FIG. 3.
[0011] Computing device 110 includes image program 112. Computing
device 110 may be a desktop computer, a notebook, a laptop
computer, a tablet computer, a handheld device, a smart-phone, a
thin client, or any other electronic device or computing system
capable of receiving and sending data to and from other computing
devices, such as server 120, via a network, such as network 130.
Although not shown, optionally, computing device 110 can comprise a
cluster of web devices executing the same software to collectively
process requests. Computing device 110 is described in more detail
with reference to FIG. 3.
[0012] In the example embodiment, image program 112 is a program
capable of receiving input, such as keywords associated with an
image, from the user of computing device 110. Image program 112 is
also capable of determining one or more additional keywords to
associate with an image by way of utilizing object recognition
software. Additionally, image program 112 is capable of receiving
information from other computing devices, such as server 120, via
network 130, and determining an appropriate image for a user
comment based on the received information. In one embodiment, image
program 112 may be fully or partially integrated with a social
media site or professional network. The operations and functions of
image program 112 are described in more detail with reference to
FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of image
program 112 in determining an appropriate image for a user posting,
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the example
embodiment, image program 112 detects user images (step 202). In
the example embodiment, image program 112 may detect a user
selection of an array of images available on the social media sit
of the user or may include the entirety of images available on the
social media site of the user. In addition, image program 112 may
detect a user selection of images present on computing device 110,
another computing device, or an external device. Additionally,
image program 112 may detect all images associated with the user
available through any of the previously mentioned outlets
(websites, social media sites, computing devices, etc.).
[0014] Image program 112 identifies associated information for each
detected image (step 204). In the example embodiment, image program
112 receives user input via a user interface, such as keywords to
associate with one or more of the detected images. For example, the
user may input the keyword "football" with regard to an image. The
keywords is then stored in metadata associated with the image for
future reference. In addition, image program 112 may additionally
utilize object recognition software to determine additional
keywords to associate with an image. For example, if an image
depicts the user throwing a football, image program 112 utilizes
object recognition software to identify a football within the
image, and subsequently associates the keyword "football" with the
image. Furthermore, image program 112 may receive additional input
that indicates situations, event, occurrences, and/or days/times
the image is appropriate for. In the example embodiment, image
program 112 stores this additional information in the metadata
associated with the image for future reference. In another
embodiment, image program 112 identifies associated information for
a user selection or a portion of the detected images.
[0015] Image program 112 detects a user communication on a third
party forum (step 206). In the example embodiment, image program
112 detects a user communication on a third party forum, such as a
forum housed on server 120, by communicating with the operating
system and monitoring the use of computing device 110. Examples of
a third party forum may include a chat room, a webpage which
includes a section for comments, a social media or alternative
networking website, a chat within a peer-to-peer messaging program,
or another type of website or network communication means.
[0016] Image program 112 determines an appropriate image to
associate with the user based on contextual information (step 208).
In the example embodiment, image program 112 determines an
appropriate image based on information retrieved from the third
party forum. The information may include: the message posted or
transmitted, the content of the webpage/third party forum, the type
of forum (for example, a dating site, or fantasy football website),
the URL or domain of the third party forum, the context/content of
the message thread that the user has commented on or responded to,
and a referrer, if any, to the third party forum. A referrer may
be, for example, if a user is on a website detailing/depicting
cars, and the user clicks on a link within the website which takes
him/her to the third party forum, information about the referrer
(the car website) may be included in the information retrieved by
image program 112. In the example embodiment, image program 112
analyzes the retrieved information and compares the information to
the information associated with each detected image associated with
the user of computing device 110. For example, image program 112
may analyze the retrieved information and determine that the third
party forum is a fantasy football website, and utilize language
processing techniques, such as locating keywords and natural
language processing, to determine that the content of the user
communication within the forum contains the keywords "football",
and "Green Bay Packers.RTM." ("Packers" is a registered trademark
of the Green Bay Packers), image program 112 determines that the
user communication is associated with football and specifically
with the football team the "Green Bay Packers". Image program 112
may then analyze the associated information of each image in order
to determine whether an image contains associated information
detailing "football" and/or the "Green Bay Packers." If image
program 112 is able to identify an image which has associated
information detailing both terms, then the image is chosen as an
appropriate image (for example, an image featuring a person wearing
a "Green Bay Packers" jersey may have associated information
detailing both terms).
[0017] In another embodiment, image program 112 may take the user
that the user communication is intended for (directed to) into
account. For example, image program 112 may determine that the user
communication is directed to User B, for example, the user of
computing device 110 may comment on a thread created by User B or
respond to a comment created by User B. In this situation, image
program 112 may determine that an image containing both the user of
computing device 110 and User B is an appropriate image.
Alternatively, image program 112 may determine characteristics,
such as interests and the profession of User B and choose an
appropriate image based on the determined characteristics. In this
embodiment, image program 112 may reference a social media account
or professional network account of User B in order to retrieve
relevant information.
[0018] In yet another embodiment, image program 112 may be provided
keywords associated with the third party forum or the comments
within the forum that image program 112 may utilize in determining
an appropriate image. Furthermore, information associated with the
user, such as a tagline, may also be utilized in determining an
appropriate image. Additionally, context information regarding the
user may also be utilized in determining an appropriate image. For
example, image program 112 may identify contextual information
associated with the user such as the user's location, the user's
time zone/local time, a local season, local weather (or upcoming
weather), the user's profession, the user's interests, or any other
information associated with characteristics of the user. Even
further, image program 112 may take a sentiment of the user
communication into account when determining an appropriate image.
Image program 112 may utilize language processing techniques in
order to determine a sentiment associated with the user
communication. In addition, in this embodiment, the detected images
may be classified by a sentiment or characteristic based on an
analysis of the associated information. Therefore, image program
112 is able to determine the appropriate image for the user
communication based on the identified sentiment. In an embodiment,
image program 112 may also take the type of discussion/thread
and/or forum/website into account when determining an appropriate
image. For example, if the user communication occurs on a fantasy
football website, image program 112 may determine that an image
involving football, such as the user of computing device 110 in a
football jersey or an image depicting a famous football announcer
is an appropriate image.
[0019] Image program 112 transmits the image to the third party
forum (step 210). In the example embodiment, image program 112
transmit the image determined to be appropriate to the third party
forum for the purpose of displaying the image in association to the
user communication. In another embodiment, image program 112 may be
integrated into a social media site and therefore, the determined
appropriate image is utilized in association with a user
communication on the social media site.
[0020] In another embodiment, image program 112 may determine a set
of appropriate images rather than a single image, in a similar
manner as discussed above. The set of appropriate images may then
be transmitted to the third party forum for the purpose of display
in association with the user communication. Image program 112 may
determine each image based on different criteria of the criteria
discussed in the previous step (step 208). For example, image
program 112 may determine a first image based on a determined
sentiment of the user communication while determining a second
image based on contextual information of the user. The images may
then be overlayed and displayed in association with the user
communication (on the third party forum or on an integrated social
media site).
[0021] In an additional embodiment, image program 112 may rather
than selecting an appropriate image, may transmit a set of images
along with information associated with each image. In this
additional embodiment, the third party forum would make the
determination of which image or images are appropriate for the user
communication.
[0022] The foregoing description of various embodiments of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may
be apparent to a person skilled in the art of the invention are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention as
defined by the accompanying claims.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of components of computing
device 110 and server 120 of image system 100 in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It should be
appreciated that FIG. 3 provides only an illustration of one
implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to
the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented.
Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made.
[0024] Computing device 110 and server 120 include communications
fabric 302, which provides communications between computer
processor(s) 304, memory 306, persistent storage 308,
communications unit 312, and input/output (I/O) interface(s) 314.
Communications fabric 302 can be implemented with any architecture
designed for passing data and/or control information between
processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network
processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other
hardware components within a system. For example, communications
fabric 302 can be implemented with one or more buses.
[0025] Memory 306 and persistent storage 308 are computer-readable
storage media. In this embodiment, memory 306 includes random
access memory (RAM) 316 and cache memory 318. In general, memory
306 can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile
computer-readable storage media.
[0026] Image program 112 in computing device 110 may be stored in
persistent storage 308 for execution by one or more of the
respective computer processors 304 via one or more memories of
memory 306. In this embodiment, persistent storage 308 includes a
magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a
magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage 308 can include a
solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only
memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash
memory, or any other computer-readable storage media that is
capable of storing program instructions or digital information.
[0027] The media used by persistent storage 308 may also be
removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for
persistent storage 308. Other examples include optical and magnetic
disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive
for transfer onto another computer-readable storage medium that is
also part of persistent storage 308.
[0028] Communications unit 312, in these examples, provides for
communications with other data processing systems or devices. In
these examples, communications unit 312 includes one or more
network interface cards. Communications unit 312 may provide
communications through the use of either or both physical and
wireless communications links. Image program 112 in computing
device 110 may be downloaded to persistent storage 308 through
communications unit 312.
[0029] I/O interface(s) 314 allows for input and output of data
with other devices that may be connected to computing device 110
and server 120. For example, I/O interface 314 may provide a
connection to external devices 320 such as, a keyboard, keypad, a
touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External
devices 320 can also include portable computer-readable storage
media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or
magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to
practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., image program
112 in computing device 110, can be stored on such portable
computer-readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent
storage 308 via I/O interface(s) 314. I/O interface(s) 314 can also
connect to a display 322.
[0030] Display 322 provides a mechanism to display data to a user
and may be, for example, a computer monitor.
[0031] The programs described herein are identified based upon the
application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment
of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any
particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for
convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use
solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by
such nomenclature. The present invention may be a system, a method,
and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may
include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having
computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a
processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.
[0032] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0033] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge devices. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0034] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object
code written in any combination of one or more programming
languages, including an object oriented programming language such
as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The computer readable program
instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on
the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or device. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry
including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays
(PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by
utilizing state information of the computer readable program
instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to
perform aspects of the present invention.
[0035] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable
program instructions.
[0036] These computer readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0037] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0038] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in
the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0039] The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are
not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments
disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention. The terminology used herein was chosen
to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical
application or technical improvement over technologies found in the
marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to
understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
* * * * *