CA2283080A1 - Automated system for image archiving - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for producing universal image tracking implementations. This invention provides a functional implementation, from which any image-producing device can construct automatically generated archival enumerations. This implementation uses an encoding schemata based on location numbers, image numbers, and parent numbers, anticipated by the formal specifications. Location numbers encode information about logical sequence in the archive, image numbers encode information about the physical attributes of an image, and parent numbers record the conception date and time of a given image's parent. Parent-child relations are algorithmically derivable from location and parent number relationships, thus providing fully recoverable, cumulative image lineage information. Encoding schemata are optimized for use with all current and arriving barcode symbologies to facilitate data transportation across disparate technologies (e.g., negatives to prints to computers). The implemented system is seamlessly compatible with traditional database "keydriven" recovery systems, as well as with portable decoding systems capable of reading self-contained databases directly from images.

Description

Title: Automated System for Image Archiving - 1 Reference to Related Application 2 This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional 3 Application No. 60/035,485 filed January 13, 1997 entitled 4 "Automated Image Archiving System."
Field of Invention 6 This invention relates generally to archive and 7 documentation of data. More particularly this invention is a 8 universal image tracking system wherein generations of images 9 can be related one to another and to original images that contributed to a final image without significant user 11 intervention.
12 Background of the Invention 13 Increasingly, images of various types are being used in a 14 wide variety of industrial, digital, medical, and consumer uses. In the medical field, telemedicine has made tremendous 16 advances that now allow a digital image from some medical 17 sensor to be transmitted to specialists who have the requisite 18 expertise to diagnose injury and disease at locations remote 19 from where the patient lies. However, it can be extremely important for a physician, or indeed any other person to 21 understand how the image came to appear as it does. This 22 involves a knowledge of how the image was processed in order 23 to reach the rendition being examined. In certain scientific 24 applications, it may be important to "back out" the effect of i 1 a particular type of processing in order to more precisely 2 understand the appearance of the image when first made.
3 Varieties of mechanisms facilitate storage and retrieval 4 of archival information relating to images. However, these archival numbering and documentation schemes suffer from 6 certain limitations. For example, classificatory schemata are 7 used to facilitate machine sorting of information about a 8 subject ("subject information") according to categories into 9 which certain subjects fit. Additionally tracking in-formation, that is, information concerning where the image has 11 been or how the image was processed, is also used together 12 with classificatory schemata.
13 However, relying on categorizing schemata is inefficient 14 and ineffective. On the one hand, category schemata that are limited in size (i.e. number of categories) are convenient to 16 use but insufficiently comprehensive for large-scale 17 applications, such as libraries and national archives.
18 Alternatively if the classificatory schemata is sufficiently 19 comprehensive for large-scale applications, it may well be far too complicated, and therefore inappropriate for small scale 21 applications, such as individual or corporate collections of 22 image data.
23 It is also an approach to provide customizable 24 enumeration strategies to narrow the complexity of large-scale systems and make them discipline specific. Various archiving 26 schemes are developed to suit a particular niche or may be 1 customizable for a niche. This is necessitated by the fact 2 that no single solution universally applies to all disci-. 3 plines, as noted above. However, the resulting customized 4 archival implementation will differ from, for example, a medical image to a laboratory or botanical image archive. The 6 resulting customized image archive strategy may be very easy 7 to use for that application but will not easily translate to 8 other application areas.
9 Thus, the utility provided by market niche image archiving software simultaneously makes the resulting 11 applications not useful to a wide spectrum of applications.
12 For example, tracking schemata that describes art history 13 categories might not apply to high-tech advertising.
14 Another type of archival mechanism is equipment-specific archiving. In this implementation a particular type of image 16 device, such as a still camera, a video camera, a digital 17 scanner, or other form of imaging means has its own scheme for 18 imprinting or recording archival information relating to the 19 image that is~recorded.
Thus, using different image-producing devices in the 21 image production chain can cause major problems. For example, 22 mixing traditional photography (with its archive notation) 23 with digital touch-up processing(with its own different - 24 archive notation). Further, equipment-specific archive schemes do not automate well, since multiple devices within 26 the same archive may use incompatible enumeration schemata.

i 1 Certain classification approaches assume single device 2 input. Thus, multiple devices must be tracked in separate 3 archives, or are tracked as archive exceptions. This makes 4 archiving maintenance more time consuming and inefficient.
For example, disciplines that use multiple cameras 6 concurrently, such as sports photography and photo-journalism, 7 confront this limitation.
Yet other archive approaches support particular media 9 formats, but not multiple media formats simultaneously occurring in the archive. For example, an archive scheme may 11 support conventional silver halide negatives but not video or I2 digital media within the same archive.
13 Thus, this approach fails when tracking the same image 14 across different media formats, such as tracking negative, transparency, digital, and print representation of the same 16 image.
1~ Yet another archive approach may apply to a particular 18 state of the image, as the initial or final format, but does 19 not apply to the full life-cycle of all image.
For example, some cameras while database time-and date-stamp negatives, 21 software creates tracking information after processing. While 22 possibly overlapping, the enumeration on negatives differs the 23 from the enumeration created for archiving. In another 24 example, one encoding may track images on negatives and another encoding may track images on prints. However, such a 26 state-specific approach makes it difficult automatically to 1 track image histories and lineages across all phases of an 2 image's life-cycle, such as creation, processing, editing, . 3 production, and presentation.
4 Thus, tracking information that uses different encoding for different image states is not particularly effective since 6 maintaining multiple enumeration strategies creates potential 7 archival error, or at a minimum, will not translate well from 8 one image form to another.
9 Some inventions that deal with recording information about images have been the subject of U.S. patents in the 11 past. U.S. Patent No. 5579067 to Wakabayashi describes a 12 "Camera Capable of Recording Information." This system 13 provides a camera which records information into an 14 information recording area provided on the film that is loaded in the camera. If information does not change from frame to 16 frame, no information is recorded. However, this invention 17 does not deal with recording information on subsequent 18 processing.
19 U.S. Patent No. 5455648 to Kazami was granted for a "Film Holder or for Storing Processed Photographic Film." This 21 invention relates to a film holder which also includes an 22 information holding section on the film holder itself. This 23 information recording section holds electrical, magnetic, or 24 optical representations of film information. However, once the information is recorded, it is to used for purposes other than 26 to identify the original image.

i 1 U.S. Patent No. 5649247 to Itoh was issued for an 2 "Apparatus for Recording Information of Camera Capable of 3 Optical Data Recording and Magnetic Data Recording." This 4 patent provides for both optical recording and magnetic recording onto film. This invention is an electrical circuit 6 that is resident in a camera system which records such 7 information as aperture value, shutter time, photo metric 8 value, exposure information, and other related information 9 when an image is first photographed. This patent does not relate to recording of subsequent operations relating to the 11 image.
12 U.S. Patent 5319401 to Hicks was granted for a "Control 13 System for Photographic Equipment." This invention deals with 14 a method for controlling automated photographic equipment such as printers, color analyzers, film cutters. This patent 16 allows for a variety of information to be recorded after the 17 images are first made. It mainly teaches methods for 18 production of pictures and for recording of information 19 relating to that production. For example, if a photographer consistently creates a series of photographs which are off 21 center, information can be recorded to offset the negative by 22 a pre-determined amount during printing. Thus the 23 information does not accompany the film being processed but it 24 does relate to the film and is stored in a separate database.
The information stored is therefore not helpful for another 26 laboratory that must deal with the image that is created.

1 U.S. Patent 5193185 to Lancer was issued for a "Method 2 and Means for Lineage Tracing of a Spatial Information 3 Processing and Database System." This Patent relates to 4 geographic information systems. It provides for "parent" and "child" links that relate to the production of layers of 6 information in a database system. Thus while the this patent 7 relates to computer-generated data about maps, it does not 8 deal with how best too transmit that information along a chain 9 of image production.
U.S. Patent No. 5008700 to Okamoto was granted for a 11 "Color Image Recording Apparatus using Intermediate Image 12 Sheet." This patent describes a system, where a bar code is 13 printed on the image production media which can then be read 14 by an optical reader. This patent does not deal with subsequent processing of images which can take place or 16 recording of information that relates to that subsequent 17 processing.
18 U.S. Patent No. 4728978 was granted to Inoue for a 19 "Photographic Camera." This patent describes a photographic camera which records information about exposure or development 21 on an integrated circuit card which has a semiconductor 22 memory. This card records a great deal of different types of 23 information and records that information onto film. The 24 information which is recorded includes color temperature information, exposure reference information, the date and 26 time, shutter speed, aperture value, information concerning i 1 use of a flash, exposure information, type of camera, film 2 type, filter type, and other similar information. The patent 3 claims a camera that records such information with information 4 being recorded on the integrated circuit court. There is no provision for changing the information or recording subsequent 6 information about the processing of the image nor is there 7 described a way to convey that information through many 8 generations of images.
9 Thus a need exists to provide uniform tracking a mechanism for any type of image, using any type of image-11 producing device, which can describe the full life-cycle of an 12 image and which can translate betweenone image state and 13 another and mechanism and another.
between one image forming 14 Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to 16 create an archival tracking method that includes relations, 17 descriptions, procedures, and implementations for universally 18 tracking images.
19 It is a further object of the present invention to create an encoding schemata that can describe and catalogueany image 21 produced on any media, by any image producing device,that can 22 apply to all image producing disciplines.

23 It is a further object of the present invention to 24 implement to archival scheme on automated data processing means that exist within image producing equipment.

26 It is a further object of the present invention to apply 1 to all image-producing devices.
2 It is a further object of the present invention to 3 support simultaneous use of multiple types of image-producing 4 devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to 6 support simultaneous use of multiple image-producing devices 7 of the ame type.
s 8 It is a further object of the present invention to 9 provide automatic parent-child encoding.

It is a further object of the present invention to track 11 image li neages and family trees.

12 It is a further object of the present invention to 13 provide a serial and chronological sequencing scheme that 14 uniquely identifies all images in an archive.

It is a further object of present invention to provide an 16 identifi cation schemata that describes physical attributes of 17 all imag es in an archive.

18 It is a further object of the present invention to 19 separate classificatory information from tracking information.

It is a further object of the present invention to 21 provide an enumeration schemata applicable to an unlimited set 22 of media formats used in producing images.

23 It is a further object of the present invention to apply 24 the archival scheme to all stages of an image's life-cycle, from initial formation to final form.
26 It is a further object of the present invention to create i 1 self-generating archives, through easy assimilation into any 2 image-producing device.
3 It is a further object of the present invention to create 4 variable levels of tracking that are easily represented by current and arriving barcode symbologies, to automate data 6 transmission across different technologies (e.g., negative to digital to print).
8 These and other objects of the present invention will 9 become clear to those skilled in the art from the description that follows.
11 Brief Description of the Invention 12 The present invention is a universal image tracking 13 method and apparatus for tracking and documenting images 14 through their complete life-cycle, regardless of the device, media, size, resolution, etc., used in producing them.
16 Specifically, the automated system for image archiving 17 ("ASIA") encodes, processes, and decodes numbers that 18 characterize images and image related data. Encoding and 19 decoding takes the form of a 3-number association: 1) location number (serial and chronological location), 2) image number 21 (physical attributes), and 3) parent number (parent-child 22 relations).
23 Brief Description of the Drawings 24 Figure 1. Invention Figure lA. Overview of original image input 26 Figure 1B. Overview of lineage information generation 1 Figure 2. Formal specification 2 Figure 3 Encoding 3 Figure 4 Decoding 4 Figure 5 Implementation Figure 6 Parent-child tree 6 Figure 7 ASIA
7 Detailed Description of the Invention 8 The present invention is a method and apparatus for 9 formally specifying relations for constructing image tracking mechanisms, and providing an implementation that includes an 11 encoding schemata for images regardless of form or the 12 equipment on which the image is produced.
13 Referring to Figure 1 an overview of the present 14 invention is shown. This figure provides the highest-level characterization of the invention. Figure 1 itself represents 16 all components and relations of the ASIA.
17 Reference conventions. Since Figure 1 organizes all high-18 level discussion of the invention, this document introduces 19 the following conventions of reference.
~ Whenever the text refers to "the invention" or to 21 the, "Automated System for Image Archiving", it 22 refers to the aggregate components and relations 23 identified in Figure 1.
24 ~ Parenthesized numbers to the left of the image in Figure 1 Invention represent layers of the 26 invention. For example, 'Formal specification' i represents the "first layer" of the invention.
2 In Figure 1 Invention, each box is a hierarchically 3 derived sub-component of the box above it. 'ASIA' is a sub-4 component of 'Formal objects', which is a sub-component of 'Formal specification'. By implication, thus, ASIA is also 6 hierarchically dependent upon 'Formal specification.' The 7 following descriptions apply.
8 Formal specification 1. This represents (a) the formal specification governing the creation of systems of automatic image enumeration, and (b) all derived 11 components and relations of the invention's 12 implementation.
13 Formal objects 2. This represents implied or stated 14 implementations of the invention.
ASIA 3. This is the invention's implementation software 16 offering.
It is useful to discuss an overview of the present 18 invention as a framework for the more detailed aspects of the 19 invention that follow. Referring first to figure lA an overview of the original image input process according to the 21 present invention is shown. The user first inputs information 22 to the system to provide information on location, author, and 23 other record information. Alternatively, it is considered to 24 be within the scope of the present invention for the equipment that the user is using to input the required information. In 26 this manner, data is entered with minimum user interaction.

1 This information will typically be in the format of the 2 equipment doing the imaging. The system of the present 3 invention simply converts the data via a configuration 4 algorithm, to the form needed by the system for further processing. The encoding/decoding engine 12 receives the user 6 input information, processes into, and determines the 7 appropriate classification and archive information to be in 8 coded 14. The system next creates the appropriate 9 representation 16 of the input information and attaches the information to the image in question 18. Thereafter the final 11 image is output 20, and comprises both the image data as well 12 as the appropriate representation of the classification or 13 archive information. Such archive information could be in 14 electronic form seamlessly embedded in a digital image or such information could be in the form of a barcode or other 16 graphical code that is printed together with the image on some 17 form of hard copy medium.
18 Referring to figure 1B the operation of the system on an 19 already existing image is described. The system first receives the image and reads the existing archival barcode 21 information 30. This information is input to the 22 encoding/decoding engine 32. New input information is 23 provided 36 in order to update the classification and archival ' 24 information concerning the image in question. This information will be provided in most cases without additional 26 user intervention. Thereafter the encoding/decoding engine i WO 98/31138 PCT/US98100b24 1 determines the contents of the original barcoded information 2 and arrives at the appropriate encoded data and lineage 3 information 34. This data and lineage information is then 4 used by the encoding/decoding engine to determine the new information that is to accompany the image 38 that is to be 6 presented together with the image in question. Thereafter the 7 system attaches the new information to the image 40 and 8 outputs the new image together with the new image related 9 information 42. In this fashion, the new image contains new image related information concerning new input data as well as 11 lineage information of the image in question. Again, such 12 archive information could be in electronic form as would be 13 the case for a digital image or such information could be in 14 the form of a barcode or other graphical code that is printed together with the image on some form of hard copy medium.
16 Referring to Figure 2 the formal relations governing 17 encoding 4, decoding 5, and implementation of the relations 6 18 are shown: Encoding and decoding are the operations needed to 19 create and interpret the information on which the present invention relies. These operations in conjunction with the 21 implementation of the generation of the lineage information 22 give rise to the present invention. These elements are more 23 fully explained below.
24 Encoding Iutroductioa. This section specifies the formal relations 26 characterizing all encoding of the invention, as identified in 1 Figure 2 Formal specification.
2 Rather than using a "decision tree" model (e. g., a flow 3 chart), Figure 3 uses an analog circuit diagram. Such a 4 diagram implies the traversal of all paths, rather than discrete paths, which best describes the invention's, encoding 6 relations.
7 Component descriptions. Descriptions of each component in 8 Figure 3 Encoding follow.
9 Apparatus input 301 generates raw, unprocessed image data, such as from devices or software. Apparatus input could 11 be derived from image data, for example, the digital image 12 from a scanner or the negative from a camera system.
13 Configuration input 303 specifies finite bounds that 14 determine encoding processes, such as length definitions or syntax specifications.
16 The resolver 305 produces characterizations of images.
17 It processes apparatus and configuration input, and produces 18 values for variables required by the invention.
19 Using configuration input, the timer 307 produces time stamps. Time-stamping occurs in 2 parts:
21 The clock 309 generates time units from a mechanism. The 22 filter 311 processes clock output according to specifications 23 from the configuration input. Thus the filter creates the 24 output of the clock in a particular format that can be used later in an automated fashion. Thus the output from the clock 26 is passed through the filter to produce a time-stamp.

i 1 User data processing 313 processes user specified 2 information such as author or device definitions, any other 3 information that the user deems essential for identifying the 4 image produced, or a set of features generally governing the production of images.
6 Output processing 315 is the aggregate processing that 7 takes all of the information from the resolver, timer and user 8 data and produces the final encoding that represents the image 9 of interest.
Decoding 11 Referring to Figure 4 the relationships that characterize all 12 decoding of encoded information of the present invention are 13 shown. The decoding scheme shown in Figure 4 specifies the 14 highest level abstraction of the formal grammar characterizing encoding. The set of possible numbers (the "language") is 16 specified to provide the greatest freedom for expressing 17 characteristics of the image in question, ease of decoding, 18 and compactness of representation. This set of numbers is a 19 regular language (i.e., recognizable by a finite state machine) for maximal ease of implementations and computational 21 speed. This language maximizes the invention's applicability 22 for a variety of image forming, manipulation and production 23 environments and hence its robustness.
24 Decoding has three parts: location, image, and parent.
The "location" number expresses an identity for an image 26 through use of the following variables.

1 generation Generation depth in tree structures.

2 sequence Serial sequencing of collections or lots 3 of images.

4 time-stamp Date and time recording for chronological sequencing.

6 author Creating agent.

7 device Device differentiation, to name, identify, 8 and distinguish currently used devices 9 within logical space.

locationRes Reserved storage for indeterminate future 11 encoding.

12 locationCus Reserved storage for indeterminate user 13 customization.

14 The "image" number expresses certain physical attributes of an image through the following variables.

16 category The manner of embodying or "fixing" a 17 representation, e.g., "still" or "motion".

18 size Representation dimensionality.

19 bit-or-push Bit depth (digital dynamic range) or push status of representation.

21 set Organization corresponding to a collection 22 of tabular specifiers, e.g. a "Hewlett 23 Packard package of media tables.

24 media Physical media on which representation occurs.

26 resolution Resolution of embodiment on media.

i 1 stain Category of fixation-type onto media, e.g.

2 "color".

3 format Physical form of image, e.g. facsimile, 4 video, digital, etc.

imageRes Reserved storage for indeterminate future encoding.

7 imageCus Reserved storage for user customization.

8 The "parent" number expresses predecessor image identity 9 through the following variables.

time-stamp Date, and time recording for chronological sequencing.

12 parentRes Reserved storage, for indeterminate future 13 encoding.

14 parentCus Reserved storage, for indeterminate user customization.

16 Any person crea ting an image using "location," "image,"

17 and "parent" numbers automatically constructs a 18 representational spa ce in which any image-object is uniquely 19 identified, related to, and distinguished from, any other image-object in the constructed representational space.

21 Implementation 22 Referring to figure 5, the formal relations characterizing all 23 implementations of the invention are shown. Three components 24 and two primary relations characterize any implementation of the encoding and decoding components of the present invention.
26 Several definitions of terms are apply.

1 "schemata" 51 are encoding rules and notations.
2 'engine " 53 refers to the procedure or procedures for 3 processing data specified in a schemata.
4 "interface" 55 refers to the structured mechanism for interacting with an engine.
6 The engine and interface have interdependent relations, 7 and combined are hierarchically subordinate to schemata. The 8 engine and interface are hierarchically dependent upon 9 schemata.
Formal objects 11 The present invention supports the representation of (1) 12 parent-child relations, (2) barcoding, and (3) encoding 13 schemata. While these specific representations are supported, 14 the description is not limited to these representations but may also be used broadly in other schemes of classification 16 and means of graphically representing the classification data.
17 Parent-child implementation 18 Parent-child relations implement the 'schemata' and 'engine' 19 components noted above. The following terms are used in conjunction with the parent child implementation of the 21 present invention:
22 'conception date" means the creation date/time of image.
23 noriginating image" means an image having no preceding 24 conception date.
ntree" refers to all of the parent-child relations 26 descending from an originating image.

i 1 "node" refers to any item in a tree.
2 "parent" means any predecessor node, for a given node.
3 "parent identifier" means an abbreviation identifying the conception date of an image's parent.
"child" means a descendent node, from a given node.
6 "lineage" means all of the relationships ascending from a 7 given node, through parents, back to the originating 8 image.
9 "family relations" means any set of lineage relations, or any set of nodal relations.
11 A conventional tree structure describes image relations.
12 Encoding 13 Database software can trace parent-child information, but 14 does not provide convenient, universal transmission of these relationships across all devices, media, and technologies that 16 might be used to produce images that rely on such information.
17 ASIA provides for transmission of parent-child information 18 both (1) inside of electronic media, directly; and (2) across 19 discrete media and devices, through barcoding.
This flexibility implies important implementational 21 decisions involving time granularity and device production 22 speed.
23 Time granularity ~ number collision. This invention 24 identifies serial order of children (and thus parents) through date- and time-stamping. Since device production speeds for 26 various image forming devices vary across applications, e.g.

1 from seconds to microseconds, time granularity that is to be 2 recorded must at least match device production speed. For 3 example, a process that takes merely tenths of a second must 4 be time stamped in at least tenths of a second.
In the present invention any component of an image 6 forming system may read and use the time stamp of any other 7 component. However, applications implementing time-stamping 8 granularities that are slower than device production speeds 9 may create output collisions, that is, two devices may produce identical numbers for different images. Consider an example 11 in which multiple devices would process and reprocess a given 12 image during a given month. If all devices used year-month 13 stamping, they could reproduce the same numbers over and over 14 again.
The present invention solves this problem by deferring 16 decisions of time granularity to the implementation.
17 Implementation must use time granularity capable of capturing 18 device output speed. Doing this eliminates all possible 19 instances of the same number being generated to identify the image in question. In the present invention, it is 21 recommended to use time intervals beginning at second 22 granularity, however this is not meant to be a limitation but 23 merely a starting point to assure definiteness to the encoding 24 scheme. In certain operations, tenths of a second (or yet smaller units) may be more appropriate in order to match 26 device production speed.

i 1 Specification 2 All images have parents, except for the originating image 3 which has a null ('O') parent. Parent information is recorded 4 through (1) a generation depth identifier derivable from the generation field of the location number, and (2) a parent 6 conception date, stored in the parent number. Two equations 7 describe parent processing. The first equation generates a 8 parent identifier for a given image and is shown below.
9 Equation 1: Parent identifiers. A given image's parent identifier is calculated by decrementing the location number's 11 generation value (i.e. the generation value of the given 12 image), and concatenating that value with the parent number's 13 parent value. Equation 1 summarizes this:

parent identifier = prev(generation) ~ (1) parent 17 To illustrate parent-child encoding, consider an image 18 identified in a given archive by the following key:
19 B0106-19960713T195913JSA:1-19 S135F-OFCPQOl00S:2T-0123 199606137121133 In this example the letter "B" refers to a second 21 generation. The letter "C" would mean a third generation and 22 so forth. The numbers "19960713" refers to the day and year of 23 creation, in this case July l3, 1996. The numbers following 24 the "T" refers to the time of creation to a granularity of seconds, in this case 19:59:13 (using a 24 hour clock). The 26 date and time for the production of the parent image on which 27 the example image relies is 199606137121233, or June 13, 1996 WO 98I31I38 PCT/US98/(b624 at 12:11:33.
Equation 1 constructs the parent identifier:

1 parent identifier = prev(generation) ~ parent 2 or, 3 parent identifier = prev(B) ~ (199606137121133) 4 - A ~ 199606137121133 7 The location number identifies a B (or "2nd") generation 8 image. Decrementing this value identifies the parent to 9 be from the A (or "1st") generation. The parent number identifies the parent conception date and time, 11 (199606137121133). Combining these, yields the parent 12 identifier A19960613T121133, which uniquely identifies 13 the parent to be generation A, created on 13 June 1996 at 14 12:11:13PM (7121133).
Equation 2 evaluates the number of characters needed to 16 describe a given image lineage.
17 Ecjuation 2: Lineage lengths. Equation 2 calculates the number 18 of characters required to represent any given generation depth 19 and is shown below:
21 lineage = 1en(key) + (generation -1) * ten( parent ) (2) 22 length ( depth ) ( identifier) 24 Example: 26 generations, 10" family relations. Providing a 26 generation depth requires a 1 character long definition for 26 generation (i.e. A-Z). Providing 1000 possible 27 transformations for each image requires millisecond time 1 encoding, which in turn requires a 16 character long parent 2 definition (i.e. gen. 1-digit, year-4 digit, month 2-digit, 3 day 2-digit, hour 2-digit, min. 2-digit, milliseconds 3-4 digit). A 1 character long generation and 16 character long parent yield a 17 character long parent identifier.
6 Referring to Figure 6, the parent child encoding of the 7 present invention is shown in an example form. The figure 8 describes each node in the tree, illustrating the present 9 invention's parent-child support.
601 is a ls' generation original color transparency.
11 603 is a 2"d generation 3x5 inch color print, made from 12 parent 601.
13 605 is a 2"d generation 4x6 inch color print, made from 14 parent 601.
607 is a 2"d generation 8x10 inch color internegative, 16 made from parent 601.
17 609 is a 3rd generation 16x20 inch color print, made from 18 parent 607.
19 611 is a 3rd generation 16x20 inch color print, 1 second after 609, made from parent 607.
21 613 is a 3rd generation 8x10 inch color negative, made 22 ~ from parent 607.
23 615 is a 4'h generation computer 32x32 pixel RGB
24 "thumbnail" (digital), made from parent 611.
617 is a 4"' generation computer 1280x1280 pixel RGB
26 screen dump (digital), 1 millisecond after 615, made i from parent 611.
2 619 is a 4'h generation 8.5x11 inch CYMK print, from 3 parent 611.
4 This tree (Figure 6) shows how date- and time-stamping of different granularities (e. g., nodes 601,615, and 617) 6 distinguish images and mark parents. Thus, computer screen-? dumps could use millisecond accuracy (e.g., 615,617), while a 8 hand-held automatic camera might use second granularity (e. g., 9 601). Such variable date,- and time-stamping guarantees (a) unique enumeration and tb) seamless operation of multiple 11 devices within the same archive.
12 Applications 13 The design of parent-child encoding encompasses several 14 specific applications. For example, such encoding can provide full lineage disclosure, and partial data disclosure.
16 Application 1: Full lineage disclosure, partial data 17 disclosure 18 Parent-child encoding compacts lineage information into parent 19 identifiers. Parent identifiers disclose parent-child tracking data, but do not disclose other location or image 21 data. In the following example a given lineage is described 22 by (1) a fully specified key (location, image, and parent 23 association), and (2) parent identifiers for all previous 24 parents of the given key. Examples illustrates this design feature.
26 Example 1: 26 generations, 10'9 family relations.

1 Providing a 26 generation depth requires a 1 character 2 long definition for generation. Providing 1000 possible 3 transformations for each image requires millisecond time 4 encoding, which in turn requires a 16 character long parent definition. A 1 character long generation and 16 6 character long parent yield a 17 character long parent ? identifier (equation 1).
8 Documenting all possible family relations requires 9 calculating the sum of all possible nodes. This is a geometric sum increasing by a factor of 1000 over 26 11 generations. The geometric sum is calculated by the 12 following equation:

14 factor'gen°r"ions 'ly1 sum= factor - 1 16 (3) 18 or, 19 1000 ~z6'~, 1 sum= 1000 - 1 24 - 1.00 ~10'9 27 For 26 generations, having 1000 transformations per 28 image, the geometric sum yields 10'9 possible family 29 relations. To evaluate the number of characters needed to represent a maximum lineage encoded at millisecond 31 accuracy across 26 generations, the following equation is 32 used (noted earlier):

1 lineage = len(key) + (generation) -1 * ten( parent ) 2 length ( depth ) ( identifier) 4 or, 1 lineage - (100) + (26 - 1) * (17) 2 length 6 Thus, the present invention uses 525 characters to encode 7 the maximum lineage in an archive having 26 generations 8 and 1000 possible transformations for each image, in a 9 possible total of 10'9 family relations.
Example 2: 216 generations, 106" family relations. The 11 upper bound for current 2D symbologies (e. g., PDF417, 12 Data Matrix, etc.) is approximately 4000 alphanumeric 13 characters per symbol. The numbers used in this example 14 illustrate, the density of information that can be encoded onto an internally sized 2D symbol.
16 Providing a 216 generation depth requires a 2 character 17 long definition for generation. Providing 1000 possible 18 transformations for each image requires millisecond time 19 encoding, which in turn requires a 16 character long parent definition. A 2 character long generation and 16 21 character long parent yield an 18 character long parent 22 identifier. To evaluate the number of characters 23 needed to represent a maximal lineage encoded at 24 millisecond accuracy across 216 generations, we recall equation 2:

27 lineage = 1en(key) + (generation) -1 * len( parent ) 28 length ( depth ) ( identifier) 29 or, i i 1 lineage = (100) + (216-1) * (18) 2 length 6 In an archive having 216 generations and 1000 possible 7 modifications for each image, a maximal lineage encoding 8 requires 3970 characters.
9 Documenting all possible family relations requires calculating the sum of all possible nodes. This is a 11 geometric sum increasing by a factor of 1000 over 216 12 generations. To calculate the geometric sum, we recall 13 equation 3:

factor~9enerntions~1) _ 1 16 sum = factor - 1 18 or, 1000 ~als.i) 21 sum = 1000 - 1 24 - l0ssi 27 - 1.00 ~ 10649 For 216 generations, having 1000 transformations per 31 image, the geometric sum yields 106'1 possible family 32 relations. Thus, this invention uses 3970 characters to 33 encode a maximal lineage, in an archive having 216 34 generations and 1000 possible transformations for each image, in a possible total of 106'9 family relations.

1 Conclusion. The encoding design illustrated in Application 1:
2 Full lineage disclosure, partial data disclosure permits exact 3 lineage tracking. Such tracking discloses full data for a 4 given image, and parent identifier data for a given image's ascendent family. Such design protects proprietary 6 information while providing full data recovery for any lineage 7 by the proprietor.
8 A 216 generation depth is a practical maximum for 4000 9 character barcode symbols, and supports numbers large enough for most conceivable applications. Generation depth beyond 11 216 requires compression and/or additional barcodes or the use 12 of multidimensional barcodes. Furthermore, site restrictions 13 may be extended independently of the invention's apparati.
14 Simple compression techniques, such as representing numbers with 128 characters rather than with 41 characters as 16 currently done, will support 282 generation depth and 108so 17 possible relations.
18 Application 2: Full lineage disclosure, full data disclosure 19 In direct electronic data transmission, the encoding permits full transmission of all image information without 21 restriction, of any archive size and generation depth. Using 22 2D+ barcode symbologies, the encoding design permits full 23 lineage tracking to a 40 generation depth in a single symbol, 24 based on a 100 character key and a theoretical upper bound of 4000 alphanumeric characters per 2D symbol. Additional 26 barcode symbols can be used when additional generation depth i WO 98/31138 PG"lYUS98l00624 1 is needed.
2 Application 3: Non-tree-structured disclosure 3 The encoding scheme of the present invention has extensibility 4 to support non-tree-structured, arbitrary descent relations.
Such relations include images using multiple sources already 6 present in the database, such as occurring in image overlays.
Conclusion 8 Degrees of data disclosure.The invention's design supports 9 degrees of data disclosure determined by the application requirements. supports:
In practicable measures the encoding 11 1. Full and partial disclosure of image data;

12 2. Lineage tracking to any generation depth,using 13 direct electronic data transmission;

14 3. Lineage tracking to restricted generationdepth, using barcode symbologies, symbology limited only by 16 size restrictions .

1~ Further, ASIA supports parent-child tracking through 18 time-stamped parent-child encoding. No encoding restrictions 19 exist for electronic space. Physical boundaries within 2D
symbology space promote theoretical encoding guidelines, 21 although the numbers are sufficiently large so as to have 22 little bearing on application of the invention. In all 23 cases, the invention provides customizable degrees of data 24 disclosure appropriate for application in commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, etc., domains.
26 Harcoding implementation 1 Iatroductioa. The invention's encoding system supports 2 archival and classifications schemes for all image-producing 3 devices, some of which do not include direct electronic data 4 transmission. Thus, this invention's design is optimized to support 1D-3D+ barcode symbologies for data transmission 6 across disparate media and technologies.
7 1D symbology 8 Consumer applications may desire tracking and retrieval 9 based on 1 dimensional (1D) linear symbologies, such as Code 39. Table 5 shows a configuration example which illustrates a 11 plausible encoding configuration suitable for consumer 12 applications.
13 The configuration characterized in Table 5 yields a 14 maximal archive size of 989,901 images (o= 19,798 images a year for 50 years), using a 4 digit sequence and 2 digit unit.
16 This encoding creates 13 character keys and 15 character long, 17 Code 39 compliant labels. A database holds full location, 18 image, and parent number associations, and prints convenient 19 location number labels, for which database queries can be made.

22 <generation> - 1 character 23 <sequence> - 4 digits 24 <date> - 6 digits <unit> - 2 digits ~C constants - 2 characters 28 Total - 15 characters Table 5: Configuration example i 1 With such a configuration, a conventional 10 mil, Code 39 2 font, yields a 1.5 inch label. Such a label conveniently fits 3 onto a 2x2 inch slide, 3x5 inch prints, etc. Note, that this 4 encoding configuration supports records and parent-child relations through a conventional "database key" mechanism, not 6 through barcode processing.
7 Conclusion. The ASIA implementation provides native 1D
8 symbology support sufficient for many consumer applications.
9 However, 2D symbology support is preferred since it guarantees data integrity. 2D symbology also provides greater capacity 11 and so can support a richer set of functionality provided by 12 the ASIA.
13 2D symbology 14 Comprehensive tracking suitable for commercial, industrial, and scientific applications is achievable 16 electronically, and/or through 2 dimensional (2D), stacked 17 matrix or full matrix symbologies, such as PDF417, Data 18 Matrix, etc. These symbologies have adequate capacity to 19 support complex implementations of the various archival and classification schemes presented.
21 Example application. 2D symbology can support a rich set of 22 the present invention's encoding. The following examples 23 present some of the possibilities.
24 1. parent-child tracking. 2D symbology can support significant parent-child encoding including parent-child 26 relations, lineage, tracking mechanisms, and derivative WO 98/31138 PCT/US98/~624 1 applications.
2 2. Copyright protection. Combined with certification 3 programs, 2D image encodings of this invention can 4 enhance copyright protection. Referential tracking to production source can be provided on any image, which can 6 include partial or full disclosure of image data.
7 Encryption technologies can further enhance 8 authentication control.
9 3. Migration paths. 2D symbology also includes important potential migration paths for encoding schemata in 11 commercial and industrial image management. 2D
12 applications may include arbitrary encryption; variable 13 sizing; Reed-Solomon error correction (e. g., providing 14 full data recovery with 50% symbol loss); printability through ink, invisible ink, etching, embossing, exposing 16 (e. g., onto negatives or transparencies); and efficient 17 scan rates suitable for automated film processing 18 equipment.
19 In summary, 2D symbology can facilitate universal data transmission, regardless of the producing technology; or data 21 transmission from any form of image-producing device to any 22 other form of image-producing device.
23 Further, the present invention provides viable 1D
24 symbology support at the implementation layer, and a specific implementation with the ASIA software. However, with 1D
26 symbology the same number or classification being assigned to i 1 different images is, in a 1D implementation, theoretically 2 possible.
3 Use of 2D symbology barcoding eliminates the possibility 4 of ambiguity resulting from the same classification or archive identifiers being assigned to the same image and is therefore 6 preferred. The use of 2D symbology together with the 7 classification and archiving scheme of the present invention 8 can protect any granularity of proprietary image data; provide 9 unobtrusive labeling on prints or print description plates;
expose archival encoding directly onto media at exposure, 11 processing, and/or development time; and yield rapid data 12 collection through sorting machines for media, such as 13 transparencies, prints, etc. ASIA provides native support of 14 2D Data Matrix to facilitate such application development.
3D+ (holographic) symbologies will permit tracking 16 greater lineage depths in single symbols. Supporting this 3D
17 implementation requires no additional complexity to the 18 system.
19 Schemata This section describes the invention's schemata, characterized 21 through the tables that follow. Tables 6 and 7, provide a 22 guide to the organization of schemata of the present 23 invention. Tables 9-17 describe the conventions, syntax, and 24 semantics of location numbers, image numbers, and parent numbers. Tables 19-26 fully expand the semantics listed in 26 Table 13 entitled "Image semantics."

1 Table 6 (following) lists all tables that specify the 2 classification scheme of the present invention. In this 3 table, exact table names are identified together with a brief 4 description of each table which describes the contents of that table.

1 Tables es r'll~t~ on 2 Table 9 Conventions Conventions for all 3 tables Table 10Syntax Syntactic summaries Table 11Size/res. syntax Table 12Locations semantics Semantic summaries Table 13Image semantics 7 Table 14Parent semantics "

8 Table 15Measure semantics 9 Table 15Software Packages Table 16Format semantics "

11 Table 17Size examples Illustrations of i s 12 Table 18Resolution examples ze "

13 Table 19Reserved media slots Specifics for Tabl 14 Table 20Color transparency film e Table 21Color negative film 16 Table 22Black & White film 17 Table 23Duplicating & internegative film 18 Table 24Facsimile 19 Table 25Prints 2 Table 26Digital 22 Table 6: Schemata tables 24 Similarly, Table 7 (following) entitled ~~Table groupings"
further groups the specification table by the categories in 26 which they are discussed in the following pages.

28 Title Table No.

2g Conventions: Table 9 Syntax: Tables 10-11 31 Semantics: Tables 12-16 32 Examples: Tables 17-18 33 Media: Tables 19-26 Table 7: Table groupings 37 Conventions: Table 9 38 Table 9 entitled nConventions~~ fully specifies the 39 conventions governing all tabular information in the archival and classification scheme of the present invention. In Table 1 9, the column Form lists the conventions governing syntactic 2 items for all tables in of the present invention.
Specific 3 conventions are the following.

4 ~ Emphasized words indicate variables.

~ ROMAN words indicate constant or literal values.

Angle-brackets <> indicate required material.

Brackets [~ indicate optional material.

Parentheses () indicate logical groupings.

Braces (} indicate regular expression modifiers.

~ The bar '~' character indicates an alternative.

11 ~ The star '*' character indicates "0 or more".

12 ~ The plus '+' character indicates "1 or more".

13 The columns Variables comprehensively lists all variables 14 used in Appendix Schemata. Each variable represents a single length character, so n represents any single digit (not any 16 number of any digit). Specific variables are:

1~ ~ '1' indicates any alphabetical character a-z 18 ~ 'n' indicates any number 0-9 19 ~ 'c' indicates any alphabetical character a-z, or a number 0-9 21 ~ 'y' indicates a digit used to construct the 22 year 23 ~ 'm' indicates a digit used to construct the 24 month ~ 'd' indicates a digit used to construct the day 2S a 'h' indicates a digit used to construct the i 1 hour 2 ~ 't' indicates a digit used to construct the 3 minute 4 ~ 's' indicates a digit used to construct the second 6 t 'i' indicates a digit used to construct a 7 fractional second.
8 Table 9: Conventions 9 Form DescriptionVariablesDescription 11 emphasisvariable I letter 12 ROMAN constant n number 13 < > required c class In 14 [ ] optional 1 ( ) grouping v year 16 { } modifier m month 17 ~ alterationd day 18 * 0 or more h hour 19 + 1 or more r minute 2 s second 21 i fractional second 24 Syntax: Tables 25 Tables 10-11 orm to strictly conf the syntactic rules of 26 Table 9 Conventions are described (above). Specifics 27 according to ons:
two logical divisi 28 1. Location, & parent image, syntax.
This is 29 described in "Syntax." Table 10 Table 10 entitled Syntax 1 provides a compact summary of the present invention's 2 functionality.
2. 9fSize ~ resolution syntax. This is described in 4 Table 11 entitled "Size/res. syntax." Table 11 Size/res.
syntax expands the syntax rules for the variable size and 6 resolution, introduced in Table 10.
7 Location, image & parent syntax. In Table 10 Syntax, the rows 8 assigned to Location, Image and Parent respectively provide:
9 1. An example of a number ('Example'), showing small and large illustrations of the schemata.

11 2. The names of each field used by a number ('Names').

12 3. The specific syntactic rules governing a 13 number('Syntax').

14 The columns identify the type of number ('#'), category, and row illustration.
16 The association of a location number and image number 17 guarantees a unique identification of every image in an 18 archive. The association of a location number, image number, 19 and parent number guarantees unique identification and fully recoverable patent-child relations.
21 Location numbers track serial and chronological location.
22 Specific fields are (a) required entries generation, sequence, 23 and date; and (b) optional entries time, author, device, unit, 24 locationRes, and locationCus. The required entries guarantee minimal tracking information and data consistency for basic 26 electronic sorting, while the optional entries provide i 1 additional granularity for high volume tracking (there are no 2 theoretical size limitations).
3 Image numbers track primarily physical attributes of 4 images across devices, media types, and storage conditions.
Specific fields are (a) required entries category size, media, 6 push or bit, resolution, stain, and format; and (b) optional 7 entries, imageRes and imageCus. Either push or bit is always 8 required, but both are never permissible. The format field 9 determines whether push or bit is used: bit is used when format is digitally related, otherwise push is used.
11 Parent numbers track the date and time of parent 12 conception, and optional data. Specific fields are (a) the 13 required entry parent, and (b) optional entries parentRes and 14 parentCus. The required entry encodes parent information for a given child image, while the optional entries provide 16 specification extension and user customization.

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w W w m o a i 2 Size & resolution syntax. Table 11 Size/res. syntax specifies 3 syntactic rules governing the variables size and resolution, 4 previously introduced in Table 10. Table 11 describes how the variables size and resolution express (a) dimension and (b?
6 units of measure.
7 The row 'Names' indicates variable names, such as 8 '<measure>' for the unit of measure. 'Syntax 1' and 'Syntax 9 2' are the canonical syntaxes.
11 Table 11: Size/res. syntax 13 Category Illustration 14 Names 4limension> <measure>
Syntax 1 <c{+}> </c{*}>
16 Names <.~=dimension> X <Y-climension> <nreasure>
17 Syntax 2 <n{+}> X <n{+}> <lc{*}>

19 NB: Variables size and resolution use either syntax form. Table 15 Measure 2 0 Semantics lists measure values. Table 17 Size examples and 18 21 Resolution examples provide illustrations.

24 Semantics: Tables 12-16 Introduction. Tables 12-16 describe semantic conventions, and 26 fully specify the syntactic rules of Tables 10-11. Values for 27 all variables are case insensitive. Tables 12-16 describe the 28 meanings of syntactic names, literal values, descriptions of 29 syntactic elements, and lengths of all fields. Specifics are described according to the following conceptual divisions.
31 Location semantics Table 12 32 Image semantics Table 13 33 Parent semantics Table 14 1 Measure semantics Table 15 2 Format semantics Table 16 3 Location semantics. In Table 12 Location semantics, Location 4 indicates the location number classification. The column Name indicates the name of a given location number field, while the 6 column Description, describes what a field means. For 7 example, the field <date> within the classification Location, 8 describes the date when the lot was made.
9 In the next column of Table 12, Syntax, Table 10's row Syntax is relisted in vertical form. The column Literal lists 11 the corresponding values or ranges of permissible values. For 12 example, the Syntax ~-yyyy~ for the field <date> literally 13 expands into a permissible range of 0000-9,999 years. The 14 next column Description, describes what the legal value means.
For example, ~yyyy~ is the year.
16 Finally, the column Length indicates the permissible 17 length of a given argument. For example, in the <date> field, 18 a minimum of 7 characters is required, and a maximum of 9 19 characters is permissible.

i 2 Table 1 2: Location semantics 4 Legal Values # Name DescriptionSyntax Literal Description Lengtl 6 Location 'geuemtion>Lot generation_ A-Z A =1st 1+

7 AA-ZZ AA = 2T"

8 . . etc.

9 ~seguence>Sequence n{+} 0-9 Lot number 1+
in archive 0000-9999 11 . . etc.

12 <date> Date made -vyyy 0000-9999Year 7 [9]

13 (ISO 8601:1988mm O 1-12 Month 14 compliant)[dd] O1-31 Day [time] Time made [T hh 00-23 Hour [5+]

16 (!SO 8601:1988tt 00-59 Minute 17 compliant,[ ss 00-59 Second plus 18 anvfractional[ i{+}]]]0-9 Fractional 19 second) second 2 [author] Author [!c{ a-zA-Z Author's name[
0 * } 1+) ]

21 . . etc.

22 [device] Device [ a,c{+}]0-9 Device number[2+]
used 2 . . etc.

24 [unit] Image in [-n{+}] 0-9 Image number Lot 2 . . etc. [2+]

27 [locationRes]Unspecified[:c{+}] a-zA-ZO-9Future use [2+]

2g [IocarionCus]Unspecified[.c{+}] a-zA-ZO-9User Customization[2+]

2 Total 9 9 [-25+]

1 Image semantics. In Table 13 Image semantics, Image indicates 2 the image number classification. The column Name indicates 3 the name of a given image number field, while the column 4 Description describes what a field means. For example, the field <category> describes the category of the image number.
6 In the next column of Table 13, Syntax, Table 10's row 7 Syntax is relisted in vertical form. The next column Literal, 8 lists the corresponding values or ranges of permissible 9 values. The next column Description, describes what the Literal value means. Finally, the column Length indicates the 11 permissible length of a given argument. For example, the 12 <size> field uses 1 or more characters.

14 Table 13: Image semantics Legal Values 16 # Name Description Syntax Literal Description Length 18 Image <category> Category I {+} S Single Frame 1+
1 9 . M Motion Picture 2 0 <size> Image or film size ac{'} (See Table 11 Size/res. syntax) 1+
21 (See Table 15 Measure semantics) 22 (See Table 18 Size examples) 2 3 <push ~ Exposure <(-~+~ (+} ~ 0 No push ( '+' _ up) <2+~
2 4 3 3 stops ( '-' = down ) . . etc.
26 bit> Dmamic range -rr{+}> 0-9 E.g, 8=8 bit 2+>
2 7 ("bit depth") . . etc.

i # Name DescriptionSyntax Literal Description Length 1 <nredia>Image medialc{*} (See TableReserved) 2 (See TableSlides) 2+

3 (See TableNegatives) 4 (See TableB&W) (See TableDups & Intemegs (See TableFacsimiles) 7 (See TablePrints) (See TableDigital) 8 [set] Package (lc~c{+}}(See TablePackages) 9 <resolution;~Resolutionrc{+? (see TableSize/res. 2+
11 syntax (See TableMeasure semantics (See TableResolution 19 examples 11 <stain> Presentationar {+} 0 Black & White1+

12 form 1 Grav scale 13 2 Color 14 3 RGB (Red,Grn,Blu) 4 YIQ (RGB Tv 16 variant) 18 (Cyn,Yel,Mag,$IK) 19 6 HSB (Hue, Sat, 2 0 Bright) 21 ("bit depth") 7 CIE (Commission 2 2 ~ de l'Eclairage) 2 3 s LaB

2 4 etc.

26 <forrat>Image formIc{*{ (See TableFormat sematics)1+

# ~ Name Description Syntax Literal Description Length 1 [imageResj Unspecified [:c{+}) a-zA-ZO-9 Future use (2+j [imageCusJ ilnspecitied [.c {+} j a-zA-ZO-9 User customization [2+j Total 10[-16+]

4 Parent semantics. In Table 14 Parent semantics, Parent indicates the parent number classification. The column Name 6 indicates the name of a given parent number field, while the 7 column Description describes what a given field means. For 8 example, the field <parentRes> is a reserved field for future 9 use.
In the next column of Table 14, Syntax, Table 10's row 11 Syntax is relisted in vertical form. The next column Literal, 12 lists the corresponding values or ranges of permissible 13 values. The next column Description, describes what the 14 Literal value means. Finally, the column Length indicates the permissible length of a given argument. For example, the 16 <parent> field uses 6 or more characters.
17 Measure semantics. Table 15 Measure semantics specifies legal 18 values for the variables size and resolution, previously 19 described by the rules in Table 11 Size/res. syntax.

i 1 Table 14: Parent semantics 3 Legal Values 4 Name DescriptionSyntax Literal DesriptionLength 6 Parent <parenr>Parent yyyvnrnr[ddJ [Tlrlrrr[ss[iDate/lime6+
{+] ]]] 0-9 7 (panenrRes]Unspecified[:c(+]] a-zA-ZO-9 Future [1+]
use (parenrCus]Unspecified[.c{+}] a-zA-ZO-9 User customization [1+]

Total 9 6 [-s+]

12 The column gory identifies which shared Cate values are by 13 size and which are unique. Literal and The column resolution 14 lists the abbreviations used in size and resolution values.
The column Deseriptioa expands the abbreviations into their 16 corresponding names.

1 Table 15: Measure semantics 2 Category Literal Description 3 Shared DI Dots per inch (dpi) 4 DE Dots per foot (dpe) DY Dots per yard (dpy) DC Dots per centimeter (dpc) DM Dots per millimeter (dpm) DP Dots per pixel (dpp) DT Dots per meter (dpt) M Millimeters C Centimeters 11 T Meters 12 I Inches Feet Y Yard P Pixel L Lines R Rows 17 o Columns 18 B Columns & Rows lg . . etc.

22 size F Format 23 vnique . .

etc.

2 Res. Unique S ISO

2 ' ' etc.

27 Format Table 16 Format semanticsspecifies legal semantics.

28 values able format, previously scribed in Table for the de vari 29 13 Image semantics. The Literal column lists legal values and I I

1 the Description column expands the abbreviations into their 2 corresponding names.

4 Table 16: Format semantics Literal Description 6 A Audio-visual 7 C Photocopy 8 D Digital 9 F Facsimile L Plotter I2 N Negative 13 P Print 14 R Vector graphics T Transparency 16 V Video 17 X X-radiographic 18 , etc.

21 Table 17: Packages 2 3 Literal Description 2 4 ___~ _____w__ 2 5 3C 3Com 2 7 AD Adobe 2 9 AIM AIMS Labs 3 0 ALS Alesis 31 APP Apollo 3 2 APL Apple 3 3 ARM Art Media 3 4 ARL Artel 3 5 AVM Aver Media Technologies 3 6 ATT AT&T

3 7 BR Bronica 3 8 BOR Borland 3 9 CN Canon 4 0 CAS Casio 41 CO Conta~.

4 2 CR Corel 4 3 DN Deneba 4 4 DL DeLorme 4 5 DI Diamond 4 6 DG Digital 47 DIG Digitech 1 EP Epson FOS Fostex 3 FU Fuji 4 HAS Hasselblad Hi' Hewlett Packard HTI Hitachi IL Iilford IDX IDX

IY Iiyama JVC JVC

12 KK Kodak 13 KN Konica ING Intergraph 16 LEI Leica 1 ~ LEX Lexmark 18 LUC Lucent 19 LOT Lotus 2 0 MAM Mamiva 21 MAC Mackie 22 MAG MAG Innovision 23 MAT Matrox Graphics 2 4 MET MetaCreations 2 5 MS Microsoft 2 6 MT Microtech 2 ~ MK Microtek 2 8 MIN Minolta 2 9 MTS Mitsubishi 3 0 MCX Micrografx 3 2 NTS Netscape 3 3 NTK NewTek 3 4 NK Nikon 3 5 NS Nixdorf Siemens 3 6 OLY Olympus OPC Opcode 3 8 OR O'Reillv 3 9 PAN Panasonic 4 0 PNC Pinnacle 41 PNX Pentax 42 PO Polaroid 43 PRC Princeton Graphics 44 QT Quicklime 4 5 ROL Roland 4 6 RO Rollei 4 ~ RIC Ricoh 4 8 SAM Samsung 5 0 SHA Sharp 51 SHI Shin Ho 5 2 SK Softkey 5 3 SN Sony 5 5 TAS Tascam 1 TKX Tektronix 2 TOS Toshiba 3 ULS Ulead systems VWS ViewSonic 6 Vm Videonics 7 WG Wang 8 XX Unknown 9 XE Xerox YAS Yashica 11 YAM Yamaha Table 18: Size examples 17 Literal ~ Dimension Measure 19 Syntax 1 ~ 135F 35mm format 2 ~ 120F Medium format 2 ~ 220F Full format 22 ~ 4X5F 4x5 format 23 ~ .. .. etc.

2 Syntax 2 ~ 9X14C 9x14 centimete 26 r 27 ~ 3X5I 3x5 inch 2 ~ 4X6I 4x6 inch 2 ~ 5X7I 5x7 inch 3 ~ 8X101 8x10 inch 3 ~ 11X14I 11x14 inch 32 ~ 16X20I 16x20 inch 3 ~ 20X24I 20x24 inch 3 ~ 24X32I 24x32 inch 35 24X36I 24x36 inch 3 ~ 32x40 inch 37 ~ 40X501 40x50 inch 3 ~ 50X50I 50x50 inch 3 ~ 40X50P 40X50 pixels 4 ~ 100X238P 100X238 pixels 4 ~ 1024X1280P 1024X1280 pixels 42 ~ A4S 210x297mm sheet 43 ~ A5S 148x210mm sheet 44 ~ JIS B5S 182x257mm sheet 45 ~ LETTERS 8.5xllin sheet 46 ~ LEGALS 8.5x14in sheet 47 ~ EXECUTIVES 7.25x10.5insheet ~ ~ ~ . . etc.

50 Examples: Tables 18-19 51 Size ~ resolution examples. Table 18 Size examples 52 illustrates typical size values, and Table 19 Resolution 53 examples illustrates typical resolution values.
54 Values in these tables represent limited defaults since 1 size and resolution are algorithmically generated from the 2 rules contained in Table 11 Size/res. syntax, and from the 3 values contained in Table 15 Measure semantics. See Size 4 resolution syntax for details.
6 Table 19: Resolution examples 7 Literal ~ Dimension Measure g _______________________________________________________ Syntax 1 i 50S

12 600 dpC
13 i 1200DI 1200 dpi 14 I etc.
Syntax 2 ~ 640X768P 640X768 pixels 16 ~ 1024X1280P 1024X1280 pixels 17 ~ 1280X1600P 1024X1280 pixels 18 ( .. etc.

21 Media: Tables 20-27 22 Table 20-27 specify the supported media listed in Table 23 13 Image semantics. Values of media are tied to values of 24 format, so any format value may have its own media table.
Since format is unlimited in size, media support is also 26 unlimited.
27 Tables 20-24: Film Media. In Tables 20-24, the first 28 character represents film manufacturers in the following ways:
29 ~ 'A' represents Agfa ~ ~F' represents Fuji 31 ~ 'I' represents Ilford 32 ~ 'C' represents Konica 33 ~ 'K' represents Kodak 34 ~ 'P' represents Polaroid i ~

1 ~ 'S' represents Seattle Film Works 2 ~ 'T' represents 3M
3 ~ 'X' represents an unknown film manufacturer 4 This leaves 17 slots for additional major film manufacturers, before a single first letter prefix must represent multiple 6 manufacturers, or before additional letters must be added.
7 Any 8 number of film media may be supported, but 223 defaults are 9 provided in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Table 20:
Reserved media slots 3 Reserved For Literal Description Unknown XXXX Unknown film 6 User UXO Customization 8 ~2 ~3 ~4 11 ~5 "

13 ~~ "

14 ~8 16 Specifica tion URO For future use ~1 "

18 ~2 ~4 21 ~5 22 ~6 "

23 Ug7 "

2 4 ~8 ~9 28 Table 21: Color Transparency film Company Literal Description 34 Agfa AASC Agfa Agfapan Scala Reversal (B&W) ACRS Agfa Agfachrome RS

ACTX Agfa Agfachrome CTX

ARSX Agfa Agfacolor Professional RSX Reversal Fuji FCRTP Fuji Fujichrome RTP

3 9 FCSE Fuji Fujichrome Sensia FRAP Fuji Fujichrome Astia FRDP Fuji Fujichrome Provia Professional FRPH Fuji Fujichrome Provia Professional FRSP Fuji Fujichrome Provia Professional FRTP Fuji Fujichrome Professional Tungsten FRVP Fuji Fujichrome Velvia Professional Ilford IICC Ilford Ilfochrome 47 IICD Ilford Ilfochrome Display IICM Ilford Ilfochrome Micrographic . Konica CAPS Konica APS JX

CCSP Konica Color Super SR Professional Kodak K5302 Kodak Eastman Fine Grain Release Positive 52 Film s3o2 53 K7302 Kodak Fine Grain Positive Film 7302 KA2443 Kodak Aerochrome Infrared Film 2443 KA2448 Kodak Aerochrome II MS Film 2448 KEl00SW Kodak Ektachrome Professional El00SW
Film 1 KEl00S Kodak Ektachrome Professional E100S Film 2 KE200 Kodak Ektachrome Professional E200 Film 3 KEEE Kodak Ektachrome Elite 4 KEEO100 Kodak Ektachrome Electronic Output Film KEE0200 Kodak Ektachrome Electronic Output Film 6 KEE064T Kodak Ektachrome Electronic Output Film 7 KEEP Kodak Ektachrome E Professional 8 KEES Kodak Ektachrome ES

9 KEEW Kodak Ektachrome EW

KEIR Kodak Ektachrome Professional Infrared EIR

11 Film 12 KEK Kodak Ektachrome 13 KELL Kodak Ektachrome Lumiere Professional 14 KELX Kodak Ektachrome Lumiere X Professional KEPD Kodak Ektachrome 200 Professional Film 16 KEPF Kodak Ektachrome Professional 17 KEPH Kodak Ektachrome Professional P1600 Film 18 KEPJ Kodak Ektachrome 320T Professional Film, 19 Tungsten KEPL400 Kodak Ektachrome Professional 400X Film 2 1 KEPL Kodak Ektachrome 200 Professional Film 22 KEPL Kodak Ektachrome Plus Professional 2 3 KEPN Kodak Ektachrome 100 Professional Film 2 4 KEPO Kodak Ektachrome P Professional 2 5 KEPR Kodak Ektachrome 64 Professional 2 6 KEPT Kodak Ektachrome 160T Professional Film, 27 Tungsten 2 8 KEPY Kodak Ektachrome 64T Professional Film, Tungsten 2 9 KETP Kodak Ektachrome T Professional 3 0 KETT Kodak Ektachrome T

3 1 KEXP Kodak Ektachrome X Professional 3 2 KCCR Kodak Kodachrome 3 3 KPKA Kodak Kodachrome Professional 64 Film 3 4 KPKL Kodak Kodachrome Professional 200 Film 3 5 KPKM Kodak Kodachrome Professional 25 3 6 KVSS0279 Kodak Film Vericolor Slide Film SO-279 37 KVS Kodak Vericolor Slide Film 3 8 Polaroid PPCP Polaroid Professional High Contrast 3 9 Polychrome 4 0 Reserved -- See Table 20 4 1 Seattle Film 42 Works SEWS Seattle Film Works 43 3M TSCS 3M ScotchColor Slide 4 4 TSCT 3M ScotchColor T slide 4 7 Table 22: Color negative film 4 9 Company Literal Description 51 Agfa ACOP Agfa Agfacolor Optima 52 AHDC Agfa Agfacolor HDC

53 APOT Agfa Agfacolor Triade Optima Professional 5 4 APO Agfa Agfacolor Professional Optima 5 5 APP Agfa Agfacolor Professional Portraita 5 6 APU Agfa Agfacolor Professional Ultra 57 APXPS Agfa Agfacolor Professional Portrait XPS

5 8 ATPT Agfa Agfacolor Triade Portraits Professional 5 9 ATUT Agfa Agfacolor Triade Ultra Professional 6 0 Fuji FHGP Fuji Fujicolor HG Professional 1 FHG Fuji Fujicolor HG

2 FNHG Fuji Fujicolor NHG Professional 3 FNPH Fuji Fujicolor NPH Professional 4 FNPL Fuji Fujicolor NPL Professional FNPS Fuji Fujicolor NPS Professional 6 FPI Fuji Fujicolor Print FPL Fuji Fujicolor Professional Type L

8 ~'O , Fuji Fujicolor Positive FRG Fuji Fujicoior Reala G

~ Fujicolor Reala 11 FSGP Fuji Fujicolor Super G
Plus I2 FSG Fuji Fujicolor Super G

13 FSHG Fuji Fujicolor Super HG

14 FS Fuji Fujicolor Super Kodak K5079 Kodak Motion Picture 5079 16 K5090 Kodak CF1000 5090 1 ~ K5093 Kodak Motion Picture 5093 18 K5094 Kodak Motion Picture 5094 19 KA2445 Kodak Aerocolor II Negative Film 2445 2 0 KAPB Advantir Professional Film 21 KCPT Kodak Kodacolor Print 2 2 KEKA Kodak Ektar Amateur 2 3 KEPG Ektapress Gold 2 4 KEPPR Kodak Ektapress Plus Professional 2 5 KGOP Kodak Gold Plus 2 6 KGO Kodak Gold 2 ~ KGPX Kodak Ektacolor Professional GPX

2 8 KGTX Kodak Ektacolor Professional GTX

2 9 KPCN Kodak Professional 400 PCN Film 3 0 KPHR Kodak Ektar Professional Film 31 KPJAM Kodak Ektapress Multispeed 3 2 KPJA Kodak Ektapress 100 3 3 KPJC Kodak Ektapress Plus 1600 Profession 3 4 KPMC Kodak Pro 400 MC Film 3 5 KPMZ Kodak Pro 1000 Film 3 6 KPPF Kodak Pro 400 Film 3 ~ KPRMC Kodak Pro MC

3 8 KPRN Kodak Pro 3 9 ~'RT Kodak Pro T

4 0 KRGD Kodak Roval Gold 41 KVPS2L Kodak Vericolor II Professional Type L

42 KVPS3S Kodak Vericolor III Professional Type S

43 KVP Kodak Vericolor Print Film 44 Konica CCIP Konica Color Impresa Professional 4 5 CIFR Konica Infrared 750 4 6 CCSR Konica SRG

4 ~ Polaroid POCP Polaroid OneFilm Color Print 4 8 Reserved -- See Table 20 2 Table 23: Black & white film 3 Company Literal Description Agfa AAOR Agfa Agfapan Ortho 6 AAPX Agfa Agfapan APX

7 APAN Agfa Agfapan 8 Ilford IDEL Ilford Delta Professional 9 LFP4 Ilford FP4 PI

IHPS Ilford HPS Plus 11 IPFP Ilford PanF Plus 12 IPSF Ilford SFX750 Infrared 13 IUNI Ilford Universal 14 IXPP Ilford XP2 Plus Fuji FNPN Fuji Neopan 16 Kodak K2147T Kodak PLUS-X Pan Professional 2147.
ESTAR Thick Base 17 K2147 Kodak PLUS-X Pan Professional 2147.
ESTAR Base 18 K4154 Kodak Contrast Process Ortho Film 4154, ESTAR Thick Base 19 K4570 Kodak Pan Masking Fiim 4570. ESTAR Thick Base 2 0 K5063 Kodak TRI-X 5063 21 KA2405 Kodak Double-X Aerographic Film 2405 22 KAI2424 Kodak Infrared Aerographic Film 2424 23 KAP2402 Kodak PLUS-X Aerographic II Film 2402.
ESTAR Base 2 4 KAP2412 Kodak Panatomic-X Aerographic II Film 2412, ESTAR Base 2 5 KEHC Kodak Ektagraphic HC

2 6 KEKP Kodak Ektapan 27 KH13101 Kodak High Speed Holographic Plate, Type 131-01 2 8 KH13102 Kodak High Speed Holographic Plate, Tvpe 131-02 2 9 KHSIET Kodak High Speed Infrared, ESTAR Thick Base 3 0 KHSIE Kodak High Speedo nfrared, ESTAR Base 31 KHSI Kodak High Speed Infrared 3 2 KHS0253 Kodak High Speed Holographic Film. ESTAR
Base SO-253 3 3 KLPD4 Kodak Professional Precision Line Film 3 4 K02556 Kodak Professional Kodalith Ortho Film 3 5 K06556 Kodak Professional Kodalith Ortho Film 6556, Type 3 3 6 KPMF3 Kodak Professional Personal Monitoring Film. Type 3 3 7 KPNMFA Kodak Professional Personal Neutron Monitor Film, Type A

3 8 KPXE Kodak PLUS-X Pan Professional. Retouching Surface. Emulsion &

3 9 Base 4 0 KPXP Kodak PLUS-X Pan Professional. Retouching Surface, Emulsion 41 KPXT Kodak PLUS-X Pan Professional. Retouching Surface. Emulsion &

4 2 Base 4 3 KPXX Kodak Plus-X

44 KPX Kodak PLUS-X Pan Film 4 5 KREC Kodak Recording 2475 45 KSAF1 Kodak Spectrum Analysis Film, No. 1 4 7 KSAP I Kodak Spectrum Analysis Piate. No. 1 4 8 KSAP3 Kodak Spectrum Analysis Plate, No. 3 4 9 KSWRP Kodak Short Wave Radiation Plate 5 0 KTMXCN Kodak Professional T-MAX Black and White Film CN

51 KTMY Kodak Professional T-MAX

52 KTMZ Kodak Professional T-MAX P3200 Film 53 KTP2415 Kodak Technical Pan Film 2415. ESTAR-AH
Base 5 4 KTPKTRP KodakKTechnicaloPandFilmak TRI-Pan Professional 5 5 KTRXPT Kodak TRI-X Pan Professional 4164, ESTAR
Thick Base 5 6 KTRXP Kodak TRI-Pan Professional I KTXP Kodak TRI-X Professional, Interior Tungsten 2 KTXT Kodak TRI-X Professional, Interior Tungsten KTX Kodak TRI-X Professional 4 KVCP Kodak Verichrome Pan Konica CIFR Kodak Infrared 750 6 Polaroid PPGH Konica Polagraph HC

PPLB Polaroid Polablue BN

8 PPPN Polaroid Polapan CT

9 Reserved -- See Table 20 12 Table 24: Duplicating & Internegadve Film 14 Company Literal Description 16 Agfa ACRD Agfa Agfachrome Duplication Film CRD

I7 Fuji FCDU Fuji Fujichrome CDU Duplicating I8 FCDU1 Fujichrome CDU Duplicating, Type I

19 FCDU2 Fuji Fujichrome CDU Duplicating, Type II

2 0 FITN Fuji Fujicolor Internegative IT-N

21 Kodak K1571 Kodak 1571 Internegative 22 K2475RE Kodak Recording Film 2475 2 3 K4111 Kodak 41 I 1 2 4 KC4125 Kodak Professional Professional Copy Film 2 5 K6121 Kodak 6121 2 6 KA2405 Kodak Double-X Aerographic Film 2405 2 ~ KA2422 Kodak Aerographic Direct Duplicating Film 2 8 KA2447 Kodak Aerochrome II Duplicating Film 2447 2 9 KAR Kodak Aerographic RA Duplicating Film 242 ESTAR Base 3 0 KARA4425 , Kodak Aerographic RA Duplicating Fiim 4.125 ESTAR Thick 31 .
Base 3 2 KARA Kodak Aerographic RA Duplicating Film 3 3 KCIN Kodak Commercial Internegative Film 3 4 KE5071 Kodak Ektachrome Slide Duplicating Film 3 5 KE5072 Kodak Ektachrome Slide Duplicating Film 3 6 KE6121 Kodak Ektachrome Slide Duplicating Film 3 ~ KE7121K Kodak Ektachrome Duplicating Film 7121.
Type K

3 8 KES0366 Kodak Ektachrome SE Duplicating Film SO

3 9 KS0279 Kodak S0279 4 0 KS0366 Kodak 50366 41 KS0132 Kodak Professional B/W Duplicating Film 42 KV4325 Kodak Vericolor Internegative 4325 43 KVIN Kodak Vericolor Internegative Film 44 Reserved - See Table 20 47 Table 24: Facsimile. Table 24 Facsimile lists supported file 48 formats used in facsimile imaging. All digital formats are 49 supported, plus G1-G5, for a total of 159 supported formats.
Any 51 number of facsimile media are permissible.

1 Table 25:
Facsimile 2 Category Literal Description 3 _______________________________________________________________ 4 Digital -- See Table 27 Facsimile DFAXH DigiBoard, DigiFAX Format, Hi-Res 6 DFAXL DigiBoard, DigiFAX Format, Normal-Res 7 GI Group 1 Facsimile 8 G2 Group 2 Facsimile 9 G3 Group 3 Facsimile G32D Group 3 Facsimile, 2D

11 G4 Group 4 Facsimile 12 G42D Group 4 Facsimile, 2D

13 GS Group 4 Facsimile 14 G52D Group 4 Facsimile, 2D

TIFFG3 TIFF Group 3 Facsimile 16 TIFFG3C TIFF Group 3 Facsimile, CCITT RLE 1D

17 TIFFG32D TIFF Group 3 Facsimile, 2D

18 TIFFG4 TIFF Group 4 Facsimile 19 TIFFG42D TIFF Group 4 Facsimile, 2D

2 TIFFGS TIFF Group 5 Facsimile 21 TIFFG52D TIFF Group 5 Facsimile, 2D

22 Reserved -- See Table 20 Table 26: Pri nts. Table 26 Prints lists supported file formats 26 used in print imaging, such as paper prints for display. 230 27 defaults are provided; any number of print media are 28 permissible.
2 9 Table 26: Prints 3 0 Company Literal Description _____________________~__~_____________ 3 1 ___________________________________________________________________ 3 2 Agfa ACR Agfacolor RC

3 3 ABF Agfa Brovira, fiber, B&W

3 4 ABSRC Agfa Brovira-speed RC, B&W

3 5 APF Agfa Portriga, fiber, B&W

3 6 APSRC Agfa Portriga-speed RC, B&W

3 7 ARRF Agfa Record-rapid, fiber, B&W

3 8 ACRD Agfacolor HDC

3 9 AMCC I I I FB Agfacolor Multicontrast Classic MC
C 111 FB, double 4 0 weight, glossy surface 41 AMCC I I 8FB Agfacolor Multicontrast Classic MC
C 1 I 8 FB, double 42 weight, fine grained matt surface 43 AMCC1FB Agfacolor Multicontrast Classic MC
C IFB, single weight, 44 glossy surface 1 AMCP310RC Agfacolor Multicontrast Premium RC
310, glossy surface 2 AMCP312RC Agfacoior Multicontrast Premium RC
312, semi-matt surface APORG Agfacolor Professional Portrait Paper, glossy surface CN310 4 APORL Agfacolor Professional Portrait Paper, semi-matt surface 6 APORM Agfacolor Professional Portrait Paper, lustre surface CN3 i 9 ASIGG Agfacolor Professional Signum Paper, glossy surface CN310 ASIGM Agfacolor Professional Signum Paper, matt surface CN312 9 Konica CCOL Konica Color Fuji FCHPFCPI FujicolorFHGuProfessionaljicolor Print 11 FCSP Fujicolor Super G Plus Print 12 FCT35 Fujichrome paper, Type 35, glossy surface 13 FCT35HG Fujichrome reversal copy paper, Type 35, glossy surface 14 FCT35HL Fujichrome reversal copy paper, Type 35. lustre surface FCT35HM Fujichrome reversal copy paper, Type 35, matt surface 16 FCT35L Fujichrome paper, Type 35, lustre surface FCT35M Fujichrome paper, Type 35. matt surface 18 FCT35PG Fujichrome Type535, polyester, super glossly surface 19 FSFASG Fujicolor paper super FA, Type 5, glossy SFAS surface FSFASL Fujicolor paper super FA, Type ~, lustre SFAS surface 21 FSFASM Fujicolor paper super FA, Type ~, matt SFAS surface 22 FSFASC G Fujicolor.paper super FAS, Type C, glossy surface 23 FSFASS L Fujicolor paper super FAS, Tvpe C. lustre surface 24 FSFASSM Fujicolor paper super FAS, Tvpe C.
matt surface FSFA~SPG Fujicolor paper super FA, Type 5P, glossy SFA P surface 26 FSFASSPL Fujicolor paper super FA, Type SP, lustre SFA P surface 2~ FSFASSPM Fujicolor paper super FA, Type SP, matt SFA P surface 2 8 FSFAG Fujicolor paper super FA, Type 5, glossy surface 2 9 FSFAL Fujicolor paper super FA, Type 5, lustre surface 3 0 FSFAM Fujicolor paper super FA, TS~pe ~, matt surface 31 FSFASSPG Fujicolor paper super FA, Tye P, glossy SFA SP surface 32 FSFASSPL Fujicolor paper super FA, Type P, lustre SFA SP surface 3 3 FSFASSPM Fujicolor paper super FA, Type P, matt SFA SP surface 3 4 FSFASCG Fujicolor paper super FA, TS~pe C, glossy surface 3 5 FSFASCL Fujicolor paper super FA, Type C, lustre surface 3 6 FSFASCM Fujicolor paper super FA, Type C, matt surface 3 ~ FTRSFA Fujitrans super FA

3 8 FXSFA Fujiflex super FA polyester (super gloss), Fujiflex SFA

3 9 surface 4 0 Ilford ICF 1 K Ilfochrome Classic Deluxe Glossy Low Contrast 41 ICLMIK Ilfochrome Classic Deluxe Glossy Medium Contrast 42 ICPM1M Ilfochrome Classic RC Glossy 43 ICPM44M Ilfoehrome Classic RC Pearl 44 ICPS1K Ilfochrome Classic Deluxe Glossy 4 5 IGFB Ilfochrome Galerie FB

4 6 IILRA 1 K Ilfocolor Deluxe 4 ~ IIPRAM Ilfocolor RC

48 IMG1FDW Ilford Multigrade Fiber, Double Weight 49 IMG1FW Ilford Multigrade Fiber Warmtone 5 0 IMG 1 RCDLX Ilford Multigrade RC DLX

1 IMG 1 RCPDW Ilford Multigrade RC Portfolio, Double Weight 2 IMG1RCR Ilford Multigrade RC Rapid 3 IMG2FDW Ilford Multigrade II Fiber, Double Weight 4 IMG2FW Ilford Multigrade II Fiber Warmtone IMG2RCDLX llford Multigrade II RC

6 IMG1RCPDW Ilford Multigrade II RC Portfolio, Double Weight 7 IMG2RCR Ilford Multigrade II RC Rapid 8 IMG3FDW Ilford Multigrade III Fiber, Double Weight 9 IMG3FW Ilford Multigrade III Fiber Wanntone IMG3RCDLX Ilford Muitigrade III RC DLX

11 IMG3RCPDW Ilford Multigrade III RC Portfolio.
Double Weight 12 IMG3RCR Ilford Multigrade III RC Rapid 13 IMG4FDW Ilford Multigrade IV Fiber, Double Weight 14 IMG4FW Ilford Multigrade IV Fiber Warmtone IMG4RCDLX Ilford Multigrade IV RC DLX

16 IMG4RCPDW Ilford Multigrade IV RC Portfolio, Double Weight 17 IMGFSWG Ilford Multigrade Fiber, Single Weight, glossy 18 IPFP Ilford PanF Plus 19 ISRCD Ilfospeed RC, Deluxe 2 0 Kodak B&W Selective Contrast Papers 21 KPC 1 RCE Kodak Polycontrast RC, medium weight, fine-grained. lustre 2 2 KPC 1 RCF Kodak Polycontrast RC, medium weight, smooth, glossy 2 3 KPC 1 RCN Kodak Polycontrast RC, medium weight, smooth, semi-matt 2 4 KPC2RCE Kodak Polycontrast II RC, medium weight, fine-grained, lustre 2 5 KPC2RCF Kodak Polycontrast II RC, medium weight, smooth, glossy 2 6 KPC2RCN Kodak Polycontrast II RC, medium weight, smooth, semi-matt Kodak Polycontrast III RC, medium weight, fine-grained, 2 8 lustre 2 9 KPC3RCF Kodak Polycontrast III RC, medium weight, smooth, glossy 3 0 KPC3RCN Kodak Polycontrast III RC, medium weight, smooth.

31 semi-matt 3 2 KPMFF Kodak Polvmax Fiber, single weight, smooth, glossy 3 3 KPMFN Kodak Pol~finax Fiber, single weight, smooth, semi-matt 3 4 KPMFE Kodak Polvmax Fiber, single weight, fine-grained. lustre 3 5 KPM 1 RCF Kodak Polyznax RC, single weight, smooth, glossy 3 6 KPM 1 RCE Kodak Polymax RC, single weight, fine-grained, lustre 3 7 KPM 1 RCN Kodak Polymax RC, single weight, smooth, semi-matt 3 8 KPM2RCF Kodak Polymax II RC, single weight, smooth, glossy 3 9 KPM2RCE Kodak Polymax II RC, single weight, fme-grained, lustre 4 0 KPM2RCN Kodak Polvmax II RC, single weight, smooth, semi-matt 41 KPMFAF Kodak Polvmax Fine-Art, double weight, smooth, glossy 42 KPMFAN Kodak Polvmax Fine-Art, double weight, smooth, semi-matt 43 KPPFM Kodak Polyprint RC, medium weight, smooth, glossy 4 4 KPPNM Kodak Polvprint RC, medium weight, smooth. semi-matt 4 5 KPPEM Kodak Polyprint RC, medium weight, fine-grained, lustre 4 6 KPFFS Kodak Polvfiber, single weight, smooth, glossy 47 KPFND Kodak Polyfiber, double weight, smooth.
semi-matt 4 8 KPFGL Kodak Polyfiber, Iight weight, smooth,lustre -49 KPFNS Kodak Polvfiber, smooth, single weight, semi-matt 5 0 KPFND Kodak Polyfiber, double weight, smooth, semi-matt 1 KPFGD Kodak Polyfiber, double weight, fine-grained, lustre B&W Continuous Tone Papers 4 KAZOF Kodak AZO, fine-grained, lustre KB 1 RCF Kodak Kodabrome RC Paper, smooth, glossy 6 KB I RCG 1 Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) l, fine-grained, lustre 8 KB 1 RCN Kodak_Kodabrome_RC_Paper, smooth, semi-matt KB2RCF _ Kodak Kodabrome iI RC Paper, smooth, glossy KB2RCG 1 Kodak Kodabrome II RC, premium weight (extra 11 heavy) 1. fine-grained, lustre 12 KB2RCN Kodak Kodabrome II RC Paper, smooth, semi-matt 13 KBR Kodak Kodabromide, single weight, smooth, glossy 14 KEKLG Kodak Ektalure, double weight, fine-grained, lustre KEKMSCF Kodak Ektamatic SC single weight, smooth, glossy 16 KEKMSCN Kodak Ektamatic SC, single weight, smooth, 1 ~ semi-matt 18 KEKMXRALF Kodak Ektamax RA Professional L, smooth, glossy 19 KEKMXRALN Kodak Ektamax RA Professional L, smooth.

2 0 semi-matt 21 KEKMXRAMF Kodak Ektamax RA Professional M, smooth, glossy 22 KEKMXRAMN Kodak Ektamax RA Professional M, smooth, smooth, 2 3 semi-matt 2 4 KELFA 1 Kodak Eiite Fine-Art, premium weight (extra heavy) 2 5 1. ultra-smooth, high-lustre 2 6 KELFA 2 Kodak Eiite Fine-Art, premium weight (xtra heavy) 2, 2~ ultra-smooth, high-lustre 2 8 KELFA3 Kodak Elite Fine-Art, premium weight (xtra heavy) 3, 2 9 ultra-smooth, high-lustre 3 0 KELFA4 Kodak Elite Fine-Art, premium weight (xtra heavy) 4, 31 ultra-smooth, high-lustre 3 2 KK 1 RCG 1 Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) 3 3 1, fine-grained, lustre 3 4 KK I RCG2 Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) 3 5 ' 2, fine-grained, lustre 3 6 KK I RCG3 Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) 3, fine-grained, lustre 3 8 KKIRCG4 Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) 3 9 4, fine-grained, lustre 4 0 KK 1 RCGS Kodak Kodabrome RC, premium weight (extra heavy) 41 5, fine-grained, lustre 42 KK2RCG1 Kodak Kodabrome II RC, premium weight (extra 44 KK2RCG2 Kodak Kodabrome II RC~premium weight (extra 4 5 heavy) 2, fine-grained, lustre 4 6 KK2RCG3 Kodak Kodabrome II RC, premium weight (extra 4 ~ heavy) 3. fine-grained. lustre 48 KK2RCG4 Kodak Kodabrome II RC, premium weight (extra 4 9 heavy) 4, fine-grained, lustre 5 0 KK2RCG5 Kodak Kodabrome II RC, premium weight (extra 1 heavy) 5, fine-grained. lustre 2 KPMARCW 1 Kodak P-Max Art RC, double weight 1, suede 3 double-matt 4 KPMARCW2 Kodak P-Max Art RC, double weight 2, suede double-matt 6 KPMARCW3 Kodak P-Max Art RC, double weight 3, suede 7 double-matt 9 B&W Panchromatic Papers KPSRCH Kodak Panalure Select RC, H grade, medium weight, 11 smooth, glossy 12 KPSRCL Kodak Panalure Select RC, L grade, medium weight, 13 smooth, glossy 14 KPSRCM Kodak Panalure Select RC, M grade, medium weight, smooth, glossy 17 Color Reversal Papers 18 KERIF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Paper, smooth, glossy 19 KERIN Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Paper, smooth, 2 0 semi-matt 21 KERISF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Select Material, smooth, 2 2 glossy 2 3 KER2F Kodak Ektachrome Radiance II Paper, smooth, glossy 2 4 KER2N Kodak Ektachrome Radiance II Paper, smooth, 2 5 semi-matt 2 6 KER2SF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance II Select Material, 2 7 smooth, glossy 2 8 KER3F Kodak Ektachrome Radiance III Paper, smooth, glossy 2 9 KER3N Kodak Ektachrome Radiance III Paper, smooth, 3 0 semi-matt 31 KER3SF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance III Select Material, 3 2 smooth, glossy 3 3 KERCHCF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance HC Copy Paper, 3 4 smooth. glossy 3 5 KERCHCN Kodak Ektachrome Radiance HC Copy Paper, 3 6 smooth, semi-matt 3 7 KERCN Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Copy Paper, smooth, 3 8 semi-matt 3 9 KERCTF Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Thin Copy Paper, 4 0 smooth, glossy 41 KERCTN Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Thin Copy Paper, 4 2 smooth, semi-matt 43 KEROM Kodak Ektachrome Radiance Overhead Material, 44 transparent ESTAR Thick Base 4 6 Color Negative Papers & Transparency Materials 4 7 KD2976E Kodak Digital Paper, Type 2976, fine-grained.
lustre 4 8 KD2976F Kodak Digital Paper, Type 2976, smooth, glossy 4 9 KD2976N Kodak Digital Paper, Type 2976, smooth, semi-matt 5 0 KDCRA Kodak Duraclear RA Display Material, clear WO 98/31138 PCT/US98/~624 1 KDFRAF Kodak Duraflex RA Print Material, smooth, glossy 2 ~T2 Kodak Duratrans Display Material, translucent 3 ~T~ Kodak Duratrans RA Display Material, translucent 4 KECC Kodak Ektacolor, Type C

KECE Kodak Ektacolor Professional Paper, fine graned, 6 lustre KECF Kodak Ektacolor Professional Paper, smooth, glossy KECN Kodak Ektacolor Professional Paper, smooth, semi-matt KEC Kodak Ektacolor 11 KEP2E Kodak Ektacolor Portra II Paper, Type 2839, 12 fine-grained, lustre 13 KEP2F Kodak Ektacolor Portra II Paper, Type 2839. smooth, 14 glossy KEP2N Kodak Ektacolor Portra II Paper, Type 2839, smooth, 16 semi-matt 1 ~ KEP3E Kodak Ektacolor Portra III Paper, fine-grained, lustre 18 KEP3F Kodak Ektacolor Portra III Paper, smooth. glossy 1 9 KEP3N Kodak Ektacolor Portra III Paper, smooth, semi-matt 2 0 KES2E Kodak Ektacolor Supra II Paper, fine-grained.
lustre 21 KES2F Kodak Ektacolor Supra II Paper, smooth, glossy 22 KES2N Kodak Ektacolor Supra II Paper, smooth, semi-matt 23 KES3E Kodak Ektacolor Supra III Paper, fine-grained. lustre 24 KES3F Kodak Ektacolor Supra III Paper, smooth, glossy KES3N Kodak Ektacolor Supra III Paper, smooth, semi-matt 2 6 KESE Kodak Ektacolor Supra Paper, fine-grained, lustre 2 ~ NSF Kodak Ektacolor Supra Paper, smooth, glossy 2 8 KESN Kodak Ektacolor Supra Paper, smooth, semi-matt 2 9 KET I Kodak Ektatrans RA Display Material, smooth, 3 0 semi-matt 31 KEU2E Kodak Ektacolor Ultra II Paper, fine-grained.
lustre 32 KEU2 F Kodak Ektacolor Ultra II Paper, smooth, glossy 3 3 KEU2N Kodak Ektacolor Ultra II Paper, smooth, semi-matt 34 KEU3E Kodak Ektacolor Ultra III Paper, fine-grained, lustre 3 5 KEU3F Kodak Ektacolor Ultra III Paper, smooth, glossy 3 6 KEU3N Kodak Ektacolor Ultra III Paper, smooth, semi-matt 3 ~ SUE Kodak Ektacolor Ultra Paper, fine-grained, lustre 3 g KEG Kodak Ektacolor Ultra Paper, smooth, glossy 3 9 KEUN Kodak Ektacolor Ultra Paper, smooth, semi-matt 41 Inkjet Papers & Films 42 KEJFCSOHG Kodak Ektajet 50 Clear Filin LW4, Polyester Base, 4 3 clear 44 KEJFLFSG Kodak Ektajet Film, Type LF, semi-gloss 45 KEJFWSOHG Kodak Ektajet 50 White Film, Polyester Base, high 4 6 gloss 4~ KEJPSOSG Kodak Ektajet 50 Paper, RC Base, semi-gloss 4 8 KEJPC Kodak Ektajet Coated Paper 49 KEJPCHW Kodak Ektajet Heaw Weight Coated Paper 5 0 KEJPEFSG Kodak Ektajet Paper, Type EF, semi-gloss s~

1 KEJPLFSG Kodak Ektajet Paper, Type LF, semi-gloss 2 Polaroid POOP Polaroid OneFilm Color Print 3 PPCP Polaroid Professional High Contrast Polychrome 4 PPGH Polaroid Polygraph HC

PPLB Polaroid Polablue BN

PPPN Polapan CT

7 Reserved -- See Table 20 Table 26: Digital Formats. Table 26 Digital lists supported 11 file 12 formats used in digital imaging. 159 default values are 13 provided 14 in the preferred embodiment although any number of digital media 16 are permissible.

18 Table 27: Digital 2 0 Category Literal Description 21 ________________________________________________________~_____ __ 22 Digital ACAD AutoCAD database or slide 23 ASCI ASCII graphics 2 4 ATK Andrew Toolkit raster object 2 5 AVI Microsoft video 26 AVS AVS X image 2 7 BIO Biorad confocal file 2 8 BMP Microsoft Windows bitmap image 2 9 BMPM Microsoft Windows bitmap image, monochrome 3 0 BPGM Bentleyized Portable Graymap Format 3 ~ BRUS Doodle brush file 3 3 CDR Corel Draw 3 4 CIF CIF file format for VLSI

3 5 CGOG Compressed GraphOn graphics 3 6 CMUW CMU window manager bitmap 3 7 CMX Corel Vector 3 8 CMYK Raw cyan, magenta. yellow, and black bytes 3 9 CQT Cinepak Quicktime 40 DVI Tyesetter Device Independent format 41 EPS Adobe Encapsulated PostScript 42 EPSF Adobe Encapsulated PostScript file format 43 EPSI Adobe Encapsulated PostScript Interchange format 1 FIG Xfig image format 2 FIT Flexible Image Transport System 3 FLC FLC movie file 4 FLI FLI movie file FST Usenix FaceSaver(tm) file 6 G10X Gemini lOX printer graphics GEM GEM image file GIF CompuServe Graphics image 9 G1F8 CompuServe Graphics image (version 87a) GOUL Gouid scanner file 11 GRA Raw gray bytes 12 HDF Hierarchical Data Format 13 HIPS HIPSIfiIe 14 HIS Image Histogram HPLJ Hewlett Packard LaserJet format 16 HPPJ Hewlett Packard PaintJet 1 ~ HTM Hypertext Markup Language 1 g HTM2 Hypertext Markup Language, level 2 19 HTM3 Hypertext Markup Language, level 3 2 0 HTM4 Hypertext Markup Language, level 4 21 ICON Sun icon 22 ICR NCSA Telnet Interactive Color Raster graphic format 2 3 IFF Electronic Arts 24 ILBM Amiga ILBM file 2 5 IMG Img-whatnot file 2 6 JBG Joint Bi-level image experts Group file interchange format JPG Joint Photographic experts Group file interchange format 2 8 LISP Lisp machine bitmap file 2 9 MACP Apple MacPaint file 3 0 MAP Colormap intensities and indices 31 MAT Raw matt bytes 3 2 MCI MCI format 3 3 MGR MGR bitmap 3 4 M1D MID format 3 5 MIF ImageMagick format 3 6 MITS Mitsubishi S340-10 Color sublimation MMM MMM movie file 3 8 MOV Movie format 3 9 MP2 Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) interchange format, level 41 MP3 Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) interchange format, level 43 MPG Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) interchange format, level 4 5 MSP Microsoft Paint 4 6 MTV MTV ray tracer image 4 '1 NKN Nikon fon~nat 48 NUL NULL image 49 PBM Portable BitMap 5 0 PCD Kodak Photo-CD

1 PCX Zsoft IBM PC Paintbrush 2 PDF Portable Document Format table 3 PGM Portable GrayMap format 4 PGN Portable GrayMap format PI1 Atari Degas .pi 1 Fon~nat 6 PI3 Atari Degas .pi3 Format 7 PIC Apple Macintosh QuickDraw/PICT

8 PLOT Unix Plot(5) format 9 PNG Portable Network Graphics PNM Portable anymap 11 PPM Portable pixmap 12 PPT Powerpoint 13 PRT PRT ray tracer image 14 PS 1 Adobe PostScript, level 1 PS2 Adobe PostScript. level 2 16 PSD Adobe Photoshop 17 QRT QRT ray tracer 18 RAD Radiance image 19 RAS CMU raster image format 2 0 RGB Raw red, green. and blue b5rtes 21 RGBA Raw red, green, blue. and matt bytes 2 2 RLE Utah Run length encoded image 23 SGI Silicon Graphics 2 4 SIR Solitaire file format 2 5 SIXL DEC sixel color format 2 6 SLD AutoCADA slide filea 2 7 SPC Atari compressed Spectrum file 2 8 SPOT SPOT satelite images 2 9 SUN SUN Rasterfile 3 0 TGA Targa True Vision 31 TIF Tagged Image Format 3 2 TIL Tile image with a texture 3 3 TXT Raw text 3 4 UIL Motif UIL icon file 3 5 UPC Universal Product Code bitmap 3 6 UYVY YUV bit/pixel interleaved (AccomWSD) 37 VIC Video Image Communication and Retrieval (VICAR) 3 8 VID Visual Image Directory 3 9 VIF Khoros Visualization image 4 0 WRL Virtual reality modeling language 41 X1BM X10 bitmap 42 XBM X11 bitmap 43 XCC Constant image of X server color 44 XIM XIM file 4 5 XPM X 11 pixmap 4 6 XWD X Window system window Dump 4 7 XXX Image from X server screen 48 YBM Bennet Yee "face" file 4 9 YUV Abekas Y- and U- and Y-file 5 0 YUV3 Abekas Y- and U- and Y-file, 3 1 ZEIS Zeiss confocal file 2 ZINC Zinc bitrnap 3 Facsimile - See Table 25 4 Reserved -- See Table 20 6 Conclusion 7 This invention supports an indefinite number of formal 8 objects. At the current time, supported objects are parent-9 child encoding, 1D and 2D barcoding, and a reasonably sized schemata. The invention's means of classification and archive 11 notation is sufficiently flexible to be used in a variety of 12 imaging situations shown. The examples given are meant to 13 provide illustrations only and not to be limiting with respect 14 to the types of imaging situations to which the present invention might apply.
16 The rules and notations specified in the preceding tables 17 provide a basis for universal image enumeration encoding, 18 decoding, and processing suitable for development of diverse 19 implementations of the invention.
ASIA
21 The present invention is implemented in a variety of hardware 22 embodiments. Common to these embodiments is the ability of the 23 equipment to process information(i.e. a CPU of some type is 24 required, a means for entering data satisfying the require syntax is necessary (i.e. some form of user data entry in the 26 form of a keyboard, optical reader, voice entry, point-and-27 click, or other data entry means), a built-in encoding 28 mechanism or some form of data storage means to hold, at least i i 1 temporarily the data input by the user, a data recording means 2 in order to process the information and output a barcode or 3 other graphical representation of data.
4 Processing flow Referring to Figure 7 the processing flow of ASIA is shown.
6 Command 701 is a function call that accesses the 7 processing to be performed by ASIA
8 Input format 703 is the data format arriving to ASIA. For 9 example, data formats from Nikon, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, Kodak, etc., are input formats.
11 ILF (705,707, and 709) are the Input Language Filter 12 libraries that process input formats into ASIA-specific format, 13 for further processing. For example, an ILF might convert a 14 Nikon file format into an ASIA processing format. ASIA
supports an unlimited number of ILFs.
16 Configuration 711 applies configuration to ILF results.
17 Configuration represents specifications for an application, 18 such as length parameters, syntax specifications, names of 19 component tables, etc.
CPF (713,715, and 717) are Configuration Processing 21 Filters which are libraries that specify finite bounds for 22 processing, such pre-processing instructions applicable to 23 implementations of specific devices. ASIA supports an 24 unlimited number of CPFs. Processing 719 computes output, such as data converted into numbers.
26 Output format 721 is a structured output used to return 1 processing results.
2 OLF (723, 725, 727) are Output Language Filters which are 3 libraries that produce formatted output, such as barcode 4 symbols, DBF, Excel, HTML, LATEX, tab delimited text, WordPerfect, etc. ASIA supports an unlimited number of OLFs.
6 Output format driver 729 produces and/or delivers data to 7 an Output Format Filter. OFF (731, 733, 735) are Output Format 8 Filters which are libraries that organize content and 9 presentation of output, such as outputting camera shooting data, database key numbers, data and database key numbers, data 11 dumps, device supported options, decoded number values, etc.
12 ASIA supports an unlimited number of OLFs.
13 Numeric ranges 14 ASIA uses indefinite numeric ranges for all of its variables except date, which supports years 0000-9999. ASIA provides 16 default values for the numeric ranges, which represent a 17 preferred embodiment, and are not meant to be limiting. Indeed 18 the present invention can accommodate additional values 19 depending upon the implementation selected. And the current ranges and values can be easily extended, depending upong the 21 needs of specific implementation.
22 Location numbers. Location numbers track any number of 23 generation, any number of lots, and date to the day.
24 Optionally, location numbers track time to any granularity of accuracy, any number of concurrent authors, any number of 26 devices, any number of images in an archive, any number of I I

1 additional data for future extensibility, and any number of 2 additional data for user customization.
3 Image numbers. Image numbers track any number of imaging 4 categories (2 defaults), any number of media sizes (47 defaults); any number of push settings or any number of dynamic 6 range ("bit depth") settings, keyed by format; any number of 7 transparency media types (60 defaults), any number of negative 8 media types (115 defaults), any number of print media types 9 (209 defaults), any number of packages (90 defaults), and any number of digital formats (159 defaults); any unit of 11 resolution; any number of stain (presentation) forms (9 12 defaults); and any number of image formats (12 defaults).
13 Finally, image numbers optionally support any number of 14 additional data for future extensibility, and any number of additional data for user customization.
16 Parent numbers. Parent numbers track parent conception date.
17 Since an archive can have any number of images, an archive also 18 contains any number of parents. Parent numbers optionally 19 support any unit of additional data for future extensibility, and any unit of additional data for user customization.
21 All variables use unbounded value ranges except for the 22 variable date, which supports years 0000-9999. Table 8 23 Variables With unbounded ranges specifically identifies 24 unbounded variables, organized by type of number (Number), category of functionality (Category), and corresponding 26 variable (Variable).

WO 98/31138 PCT/iTS98/00624 1 Syntactic rules guarantee consistency across all 2 implementations; see Syntax: Tables 10-11 above. No matter how 3 differently implementations are customized, all implementations 4 that are compliant with the encoding scheme described herein will exchange data.
6 fiber CateQ rv Variabl 7 location number of generations generation 8 location number of lots in an archive sequence 9 location number of units in a lot unit location number of authors author 11 location number of devices device 12 location granularity of time accuracy time 13 location specification extensibility locationRes 14 location user customization locationCus image number of categories category 16 image number of media media 17 image number of software packages set 18 image number of stains stain 19 image number of formats format image range of push settings push 21 image range of bit depth bit 22 image range of size size 23 image range of resolution resolution 24 image specification extensibility imageRes image user customization imageCus 26 parent granularity of time accuracy parent 27 parent specification extensibility parentRes 28 parent user customization parentCus 29 Table 8: Variables with unbounded ranges Examples. More specifically, 4 examples will illustrate 31 ASIA's interoperability. All of these examples use a 4 32 digit sequence definition (i.e., supporting 9,999 lots), 33 but each example adjusts the unit definition and employs 34 the optional variables device and/or author. Values of device and author are adjusted irregularly across the 36 examples.
37 Exaa~le. Using 36 unit lots, useful for traditional 35mm i 1 photography, this creates an upper bound of 359,964 images 2 per archive (or 7,199 images a year for 50 years). 1 3 digit device encoding is used supporting up to 10 4 concurrently used devices.
Example. Using 99 unit lots, useful for digital imaging, 6 this creates an upper bound of 989,901 images per archive 7 (or 19,798 images a year for 50 years). 2 digit device 8 encoding is used supporting up to 100 concurrently used 9 devices.
Example. Using 9,999 unit lots, useful for photocopy 11 imaging, this creates an upper bound of 100 million 12 (99,980,001) images per archive (or 2 million [1,999,600]
13 images a year for 50 years). 3 character author encoding 14 is used supporting up to 676 concurrent authors in the archive, device is unspecified.
16 Example. Using 999,999 unit lots, suitable for motion 17 imaging, this creates an upper bound of 9,998,990,001 (10 18 trillion) images per archive (or 200 million [-199,979,800]
19 images a year for 50 years). 4 character author encoding is used supporting up to 456,976 concurrent 21 authors; and 3 digit device encoding is used supporting up 22 to 1000 concurrently used devices per author.
23 Data from all of the above example can be seamlessly 24 shared using the encoding scheme of the present invention.
Parent-child Processing 26 Implementation. ASIA provides native support of parent 1 decoding and is written to support parent encoding. However, 2 since parent-child encoding functionality must operate directly 3 with resolvers (see Figure 3) multi-generation encoding is left 4 to device specific implementations.
ASIA implements parent-child support through the 6 'schemata' and 'engine' components of the Figure 5 7 Implementation through extensive use of OLF's (See Figure 7 8 ASIA).
9 Harcode Processing Implementation. ASIA natively supports 1D Code 39 and 2D Data 11 Matrix barcodes. ASIA implements barcoding through the 12 'engine' component of the implementation.
13 Code Instantiation 14 The ASIA engine library specifically implements the invention's formal requirements for classification and archival 16 notation and in this sense provides a reference implementation 17 of the invention's relations.
18 ASIA is written in ANSI C++, with flexibility and 19 performance improving extensions for Win32 and SVID compliant UNIXes. It has been developed to work as a library for 21 inclusion into other software, or as a core engine to which 22 interfaces are written. ASIA is modularized into small, 23 convenient encoding and decoding filters (libraries): ILFs, 24 CPFs, OLFs, and OFFs. To create a full implementation, a developer often needs only to write 1 filter of each variety.
26 These filters are simple, sometimes a few lines of code each.

i 2 Such extensibility is designed to permit rapid porting of 3 ASIA to diverse applications. For example, with minimal 4 effort, a programmer may port ASIA to a new device or software package. With little or no customization, the ASIA engine 6 library may plug into pre-existing applications, serve as a 7 back-end for newly written interfaces, or be included directly 8 into chips with tabular information maintained through Flash 9 ROM upgrades, etc. ASIA illustrates all 3 layers of the invention, as characterized in Figure 1. Specifically, ASIA
11 provides a robust set of native functionality in a core code 12 offering. The core code has been developed for extreme, rapid, 13 and convenient extensibility. ASIA's extensibility provides 14 theoretically unlimited interoperability with devices, mechanisms, and software, while requiring absolutely minimal 16 development effort and time.
17 It is expected that ASIA subsumes the functionality needed 18 by most applications for which the Automated System for Image 19 Archiving applies, but ASIA itself merely is one implementation of the invention's formal specifications presented in ~4.2.
21 Utility 22 For the author, devices that implement this invention can 23 provide a convenient, accurate, and flexible tracking system 24 that builds cumulatively and automatically into a comprehensive, rationally organized archival system that 26 required no archival knowledge whatsoever to use. This can 1 reduce many administrative needs facing those who use image-2 producing devices. Similarly, after a user initializes the 3 systems, the system will work without user intervention.
4 For example, the need for photographic assistants could be curtailed in professional photography. Using a device 6 constructs an archive without human intervention, and clicking 7 a barcode reader on an image displays image data.
8 For the archivist, mechanisms implementing this invention 9 can automate exact and rapid tacking of every image in a given archive, for inventory/sales, author identification, historical 11 record, etc. For example, an advertising agency could recall 12 client information and image production facts from a click of a 13 barcode reader. A newspaper could process, identify, and track 14 images from its photographic staff through automated slide sorting machines. Museums could automate collection and 16 inventory services as a matter of course in receiving new 17 materials.
18 For the manufacturer, implementations of this invention 19 can provide devices with automated encoding, decoding, and processing systems, included in chips or accompanying software.
21 A device can produce self-identifying enumeration which 22 interoperates with other devices by the same manufacturer, or 23 with other devices from other manufacturers.
24 For example, a manufacturer could provide consumers with a seamless mechanism to track image evolutions, from film 26 developing to digital editing to paper production. Or i i 1 hospitals could automatically track patient x-rays and MRI
2 scans as a matter of course in using the equipment. The 3 equipment could be manufactured by one or different 4 manufacturers, and the system would work seamlessly for the end-user.

Claims (67)

I Claim:

1. A system for universal image tracking comprising:
An image forming apparatus;
A CPU integral to the image forming apparatus;
User input means connected to he CPU for receiving user input;
Logic stored in the CPU for receiving user input and creating archive data based upon the user input; and A Graphic code producer responsive to the CPU for producing graphic codes representative of the archive data.

2. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus a film based camera.

3. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus a digital based camera.

4. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus a video camera.

5. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus a digital image processor.

6. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the image forming apparatus a medical image sensor.

7. The system for universal image tracking of claim 6 wherein the medical image sensor is a magnetic resonance imager.

8. The system for universal image tracking of claim 6 wherein the medical image sensor is X-ray imager.

9. The system for universal image tracking of claim 6 wherein the medical image sensor is a CAT scan imager.

10. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the user input means is a push button input.

11. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the user input means is a keyboard.

12. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the user input means is voice recognition equipment.

13. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the graphic codes are one-dimensional.

14. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the graphic codes are two-dimensional.

15. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the graphic codes are three-dimensional.

16. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the logic comprises configuration input processing for determining bounds for the archive data generation based on configuration input;
a resolver for determining the correct value of archive data representing the image forming apparatus and the configuration input; and a timer for creating date/time stamps.

17. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the timer further comprises a filter for processing the time stamp according to configuration input rules.

18. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the configuration input comprises at least generation, sequence, data, unit, and constants information.

19. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 further comprising a graphic code reader connected to the CPU for reading a graphic code on an image representing archive information; and A decoder for decoding the archive information represented by the graphic code.

20. The system for universal image tracking of claim 19 wherein the logic further comprises:
logic for receiving a second user input and creating lineage archive information relating to the image based upon the archive information and the second user input;
and logic for producing graphic code representative of the lineage archive data.

21. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the archive data comprises location attributes of an image.

22. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the archive data comprises physical attribute of an image.

23. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein each image in an image archive has unique archive data associated with each image.

24. The system for universal image tracking of claim 21 wherein the location data comprises at least:
image generation depth;
serial sequence of lot within an archive;
serial sequence of unit within a lot;
date location of a lot within an archive;
date location of an image within an archive;
author of the image; and device producing the image.

25. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the timer tracks year in the range of from 0000 to 9999.

26. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the timer tracks all 12 months of the year.

27. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the timer tracks time in at least hours and minutes.

28. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the timer tracks time in fractions of a second.

29. The system for universal image tracking of claim 16 wherein the system is ISO 8601:1988 compliant.

30. The system for universal image tracking of claim 22 wherein the physical attributes comprise at least:
image category;
image size;
push status;
digital dynamic range;

image medium;
image resolution;
image stain; and image format.

31. The system for universal image tracking of claim 20 wherein the lineage archive information comprises a parent number.

32. The system for universal image tracking of claim 31 wherein the parent number comprises at least:
a parent conception date; and a parent conception time.

33. A method for universally tracking images comprising:
inputting raw image data to an image forming apparatus;
inputting image-related data; creating first archive data based upon the image-related data; and translating the first archive data into a form that can be attached to the raw image data.

34. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the raw image data is from a film based camera.

35. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the raw image data is from a digital camera.

36. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the raw image data is from a video camera.

37. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the raw image data is from a digital image processor.

38. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the raw image data is from a medical image sensor.

39. The method for universally tracking images of claim 38 wherein the medical image sensor is a magnetic resonance imager.

40. The method for universally tracking images of claim 38 wherein the raw image data is from an X-ray imager.

41. The method for universally tracking images of claim 38 wherein the raw image data is from a CAT scan imager.

42. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting image related data occurs without user intervention.

43. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data occurs via push button input.

44. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data occurs via voice recognition equipment.

45. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data occurs via a keyboard.

46. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the form of the translated archive data is an electronic file.

47. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the form of the translated data is a graphic code.

48. The method for universally tracking images of claim 47 wherein the graphic code is one dimensional.

49. The method for universally tracking images of claim 47 wherein the graphic code is two dimensional.

50. The method for universally tracking images of claim 47 wherein the graphic code is three dimensional.

51. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the image data comprises image data and second archive data.

52. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 further comprising reading the second archive data; and creating lineage archive information relating to the image based upon the first archive information and second archive information.

53. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data comprises configuration input processing for determining bounds for the archive data generation based upon configured input;
determining the correct value of archive data representing the image forming apparatus and configuration input; and date/time stamping the image related data.

54. The method for universally tracking images of claim 53 wherein date/time stamping is filtered according to configuration input rules.

55. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the configuration input comprises at least generation, sequence, data, unit, and constants information.

56. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the first archive data comprises location attributes of an image.

57. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the first archive data comprises physical attributes of an image.

58. The method for universally tracking images of claim 56 wherein the location attributes comprise at least:
image generation depth;
serial sequence of lot within an archive;
serial sequence of unit within a lot;
date location of a lot within an archive;
date location of an image within an archive;
author of the image; and device producing the image.

59. The method for universally tracking images of claim 57 wherein the physical attributes of an image comprise at least:
image category;
image size;
push status;
digital dynamic range;
image medium;
software set;

image resolution;
image stain; and image format.

60. The method for universally tracking images of claim 52 wherein the lineage archive information comprises a parent number.

61. The method for universally tracking images of claim 52 wherein the parent number comprises at least:
a parent conception date; and a parent conception time.

62. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the input means comprises a magnetic card reader.

63. The system for universal image tracking of claim 1 wherein the input means comprises a laser scanner.

64. The system for universal image tracking of claim 31 wherein the physical attributes further comprise;
imageRes; and imageCus.

65. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting image related data is via a magnetic card reader.

66. The method for universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data is via a laser scanner.

67. The method of universally tracking images of claim 33 wherein the inputting of image related data is via an optical reader.