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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
An improved method for processing and storing files in a digital
camera is provided which processes multiple image formats and styles
simultaneously or sequentially on the camera. The method enables
the user to automatically process and store on the camera a small
image file sized for sending electronically while simultaneously
or sequentially processing and storing on the camera a high quality
high resolution image file thereby minimizing post-processing.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera comprising:an image sensor for capturing an
image and producing an image signal of the image;an analog-to-digital
converter for digitizing the image signal to produce a raw digital
image;an internal memory for storing at least one digital image;
anda processor for compressing the raw digital image into a first
format digital image and storing the first format digital image
on the internal memory and for compressing the raw digital image
into a second format digital image and storing the second format
digital image on the internal memory.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the processor processes
the first format digital image and the second format digital image
simultaneously.
3. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the processor processes
the first format digital image and the second format digital image
sequentially.
4. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the processor processes
at least one aspect of the first format digital image and the second
format digital image simultaneously.
5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the processor processes
at least one aspect of the first format digital image and the second
format digital image sequentially.
6. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the processor applies
a first file name to the first format digital image and a second
file name to the second format digital image.
7. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising:a display coupled
to the internal memory for displaying at least one digital image
stored on the internal memory; anda user interface for selecting
a first format for the first format digital image and a second format
for the second format digital image.
8. The digital camera of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first
format digital image or the second format digital image is formatted
for electronic transmission over a communication line.
9. The digital camera of claim 7, wherein the user interface provides
a file management unit which can delete the first format digital
image and the second format digital image through one user selection.
10. A method for capturing, processing and storing digital images
on a digital camera comprising the steps of:capturing an image and
producing an image signal representative of the image;converting
the analog image signal into a raw digital image;determining a first
format and a second format from user selected format options;processing
the raw digital image into a first format digital image and a second
format digital image;naming the first format digital image with
a first name and the second format digital image with a second name;
andstoring the first format digital image and the second format
digital image on a memory in the camera.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of wirelessly
transmitting at least one of the first format digital image or the
second format digital image to a computer.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of electronically
transmitting at least one of the first format digital image or the
second format digital image over the internet.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of applying
an additional processing step to at least one of the first format
digital image or the second format digital image.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second format digital image
is processed simultaneously with the processing of the first format
digital image.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second format digital image
is processed after the processing of the first format digital image.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of deleting
the first format digital image and the second format digital image
from instructions based on one user selected option.
17. A digital camera comprising:an image sensor for capturing an
image and producing an image signal of the image;an analog-to-digital
converter for digitizing the image signal to produce a raw digital
image;an internal memory for storing at least one digital image;
anda processor for compressing the raw digital image into a first
format digital image and storing the first format digital image
on the internal memory and for compressing the raw digital image
into a second format digital image and storing the second format
digital image on the internal memory;wherein the processor applies
a first file name to the first format digital image and a second
file name to the second format digital image;a display coupled to
the internal memory for displaying at least one digital image; anda
user interface for selecting a first format for the first format
digital image and a second format for the second format digital
image, wherein the user interface provides a file management unit
which can delete the first format digital image and the second format
digital image through one user selection.
18. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the processor processes
the first format digital image and the second format digital image
simultaneously.
19. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the processor processes
the first format digital image and the second format digital image
sequentially.
20. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the processor processes
at least one aspect of the first format digital image and the second
format digital image simultaneously.
21. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein the processor processes
at least one aspect of the first format digital image and the second
format digital image sequentially.
22. The digital camera of claim 17, wherein at least one of the
first format digital image or the second format digital image is
formatted for electronic transmission over a communication line.
Digital Camera Patent Description
[0001]This application includes material which is subject to copyright
protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in
the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
[0002]This application claims the benefit or U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 60/783,716 filed on Mar. 20, 2006, the entirety of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003]This invention relates to digital cameras and to the storage
method and format of photographs taken by digital cameras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004]Digital cameras have the ability to save images to files
in various formats and various resolutions. The typical file format
used by digital camera manufacturers is called JPEG, which is a
common compression method for images and can be read by most if
not all image processing software found in personal computers and
non-PC image display devices. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic
Experts Group with was the name of the committee which created the
compression standard.
[0005]The JPEG compression, like several other compression techniques,
provides for lossy compression and specifies both the codec and
the file format. The codec defines how an image is transformed into
a stream of data bytes. The file format is called the JPEG interchange
format and it is the most used file format for storing and transmitting
photographs on the World Wide Web.
[0006]There are numerous other types of image compression techniques
and methods. Image compression techniques include both lossy and
lossless methods. Lossless compression techniques include: Run-length
encoding; entropy encoding; and adaptive algorithms such as the
LZW algorithm. Lossy compression techniques include: color space
coding, chroma sub-sampling, transform coding, and fractal compression.
Other image file formats include: TIFF (Tagged Image File Format);
RAW, PNG, GIF, BMP, WDP, XPM, and MrSID.
[0007]More sophisticated cameras of the single lens reflex (SLR)
design typically use a proprietary RAW format which is preferred
by professional photographers who desire higher image quality and
more control over image quality in post-processing. Since each manufacturer's
RAW format is unique, special software is required to read these
files. Such software is not always available on all personal computers
or image display devices beyond not only the photographer's equipment,
but also others that he shares the photos with, therefore it is
often more convenient, for the purpose of viewing the images on
such devices, for the camera to store images in the JPEG format.
[0008]Most of the higher end SLR type cameras offer the option
of saving an image in the proprietary raw format of its manufacturer,
in the more standard JPEG format, or simultaneously in both RAW
and JPEG formats. The purpose of saving each photograph in these
two distinct formats simultaneously is that it provides the photographer
with more flexibility. Each photograph is stored in the RAW format
for the highest quality and highest degree of post-processing flexibility,
while the JPEG of the same image is more readily available for simple
tasks like viewing on a computer or other display device that may
only be able to read JPEG files.
[0009]JPEG files are also required for sending as an e-mail since
e-mail software typically cannot read the various RAW formats of
each camera manufacturer. Another reason for the simultaneous saving
of RAW and JPEG files is that RAW files from high-end SLR type cameras
are very large files, typically 4 megabytes and larger. Such large
files, even if they could be read and displayed by e-mail software
are simply too large to send by e-mail and would take too long to
send and retrieve. Furthermore, if such large files could be sent
by e-mail they would not be viewable in their entirety by the person
reading the e-mail because the resolution of the image exceeds the
resolution of the computer screen on which the e-mail is viewed.
Files sent by e-mail that are larger than the resolution of the
screen on the PC where the e-mail will be viewed are often truncated
and the whole image cannot be viewed at one time and the viewer
must pan the image on the screen to see all of it. This is also
a problem for the high quality JPEG files created by any digital
camera, since it is a function of image size, not file format.
[0010]It may appear that selecting the RAW+JPEG mode in a digital
SLR camera and setting the JPEG mode to its smallest size would
solve the problem of having to post-process images before e-mailing
them. However, the small JPEG files saved in these SLR cameras are
also too large to conveniently send in an e-mail, so they too require
post-processing to reduce them to a size that can be quickly sent
by e-mail and can be easily viewed with e-mail software. For example,
on a mid-level digital SLR camera manufactured by the largest manufacturer
of such cameras, the smallest simultaneous JPEG file that can be
stored along with a RAW file is 1728.times.1152 pixels in the X
and Y dimensions. Typical display resolutions for personal computer
monitors range from 800.times.600 pixels in low end models, to 1280.times.1024
in high end displays, with a pixels per inch resolution of 72. It
is clear that even using a high resolution PC monitor, such an image
sized to 1728.times.1152 would not fit completely on the screen.
A JPEG image of these dimensions also creates a file approximately
0.33 Megabytes in size. While this is a considerable size reduction
from the original RAW file, it is still on the large end of a file
that can be quickly e-mailed. If the photographer is e-mailing multiple
images it is advantageous to keep the file sizes to a minimum so
that a large quantity of files can be easily sent without overwhelming
the e-mail system, especially if the sender or the end user has
a slow internet connection.
[0011]Some photographers with high-end SLR type cameras prefer
to not use RAW image storage but instead shoot in high quality JPEG
mode. No digital SLRs have the option of saving a high quality JPEG
file and simultaneously save a small JPEG file for the purposes
of e-mailing, therefore if the photographer wishes to e-mail photographs,
the resulting large JPEG files must also be post-processed to reduce
their size so they can be easily sent by e-mail.
[0012]Most consumer level "point and shoot" digital cameras
normally only save their images as JPEG files so they do not encounter
the problem of file compatibility with viewing on a computer or
sending and displaying in e-mail software. But even though the higher
quality JPEG files created by point-and-shoot cameras are smaller
than the RAW files created by high-end SLR cameras, they are still
large files that are cumbersome to send and view in an e-mail for
the reasons already mentioned. Many point-and-shoot cameras offer
a low resolution image setting, typically 640.times.480 pixels,
which is a suitable file size for sending in an e-mail but not suitable
for printing or enlarging. Therefore, to obtain a high quality image
file and a smaller file of that same image suitable for e-mailing,
the user of a point-and-shoot camera must also save images at a
high resolution setting and post-process the images to reduce their
size so that they can be conveniently sent by e-mail.
[0013]Furthermore, point-and-shoot cameras do not typically offer
the option of saving files simultaneously in two file sizes. Therefore
the photographer has two options: 1) shoot in high quality JPEG
mode and post-process as previously discussed. Unfortunately, for
most people who are not technically sophisticated, they may not
have the time, skills and/or software required to convert files
for sending in e-mails. 2) Shoot in very low quality JPEG mode that
may or may not be of a size suitable for sending in e-mail. This
is a technically simpler option than reducing the size of a high
quality JPEG file, but selecting a small file size initially results
in image files that do not have enough data to make high quality
prints or enlargements.
[0014]The typical process for creating images suitable for sending
by e-mail is to download the images from the camera into a computer.
Image processing software is then used to open the image file and
convert it to a size suitable for viewing on a screen and sending
via e-mail. Many software programs offer a feature called "save
for web" or "save for e-mail" in which the image
file is converted to the typical screen resolution of about 72 pixels
per inch, sometimes called dots per inch and abbreviated "dpi".
The user then has the option of further reducing the size of the
image by altering the x and y dimensions of the image. When changing
the size of an image it is desirable to keep the ratio of the x
and y dimensions, typically called the aspect ratio, fixed to avoid
distorting the image. With the aspect ratio fixed the user only
has to choose one dimension and the other will change automatically
to keep the aspect ratio from changing. In this way the user can
specify the length of the X-axis and have the Y-axis change automatically,
or vice versa. Additionally, transferring large images using wireless
or cellular communication could occur directly from a camera, but
has many upstream wireless connectivity limitations that further
restrict the number of files that can be transferred in a reasonable
time. All these file size issues need to be addressed to successfully
shrink a large JPEG file down to the proper size for sending electronically
such as in an e-mail.
[0015]To summarize, all modern digital cameras allow the user to
select the image quality, and corresponding file size, of the photograph
being taken. Most high-end cameras have no setting small enough
to produce a file suitable for e-mailing, and if they did the image
quality would be too poor to print. Currently, no camera on the
market offers the option of selecting a high quality and a low quality
JPEG file (or secondary file format) for simultaneous or sequential
processing on the camera. The only option currently available to
photographers wishing to capture high quality images and be able
to send photographs by e-mail is to spend time post-processing their
image files so they are compatible with e-mail systems and software.
[0016]Therefore, what is needed is a digital camera which captures
an image and simultaneously or sequentially processes and saves
the captured images in multiple formats and/or styles including
a high quality image file and an image file optimized for e-mail
or internet transmission in addition to other formats.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0017]Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a digital
camera capable of capturing an image and simultaneously or sequentially
processing and saving the image in both a first or high quality
format and a second or e-mail format.
[0018]The present invention provides a method of processing and
storing images on a digital camera enabling the user to retain both
high quality image files and image files ideal for electronic transmission
making it much more convenient to send the image files by e-mail.
The digital camera can be programmed by the user to automatically
save a high-quality image file and simultaneously or sequentially
save a second copy of the same file in a format and file size suitable
for electronic transmission such as e-mail.
[0019]Accordingly, the present invention provides a digital camera
comprising an image sensor for capturing an image and producing
an image signal of the image; an analog-to-digital converter for
digitizing the image signal to produce a raw digital image; an internal
memory for storing at least one digital image; and a processor for
compressing the raw digital image into a first format digital image
and storing the first format digital image on the internal memory
and for compressing the raw digital image into a second format digital
image and storing the second format digital image on the internal
memory. The camera could include a display coupled to the internal
memory for displaying the digital images and would include a user
interface for selecting the first format and the second format.
The processor could process the first format digital image and second
format digital image simultaneously or sequentially or one aspect
of the first format digital image and second format digital image
simultaneously or sequentially. The processor might also apply a
first file name to the first format digital image and a second file
name to the second format digital image. The camera could include
a format selectable by the user which is formatted for electronic
transmission over a communication line or for wireless transmission
to a computer. The user interface could include a a file management
unit which can delete the first format digital image and the second
format digital image through one user selection.
[0020]The present invention also provides a method for capturing,
processing and storing digital images on a digital camera comprising
the steps of: capturing an image and producing an image signal representative
of the image; converting the analog image signal into a raw digital
image; determining a first format and a second format from user
selected format options; processing the raw digital image into a
first format digital image and a second format digital image; naming
the first format digital image with a first name and the second
format digital image with a second name; and storing the first format
digital image and the second format digital image on a memory in
the camera. Further steps could include wirelessly transmitting
at least one of the first format digital image or the second format
digital image to a computer or electronically transmitting at least
one of the first format digital image or the second format digital
image over the internet. The second format digital image could be
processed simultaneously with the processing of the first format
digital image or could processed after the processing of the first
format digital image. An additional processing step could be applied
to the first format digital image or the second format digital image.
The method could also include the step of deleting the first format
digital image and the second format digital image from instructions
based on one user selected option.
[0021]Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions wherein an embodiment
of the present invention is disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022]The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated herein,
and constitute a part of this specification and illustrate embodiments
of the invention. The figures with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system of the present invention.
[0024]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the multiple format image processing
steps of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025]The system of the present invention will now be described
in conjunction with FIGS. 1-2.
[0026]Digital cameras and digital video recorders are well known
and, therefore, the detailed description will be directed to aspects
and elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with,
the present invention. Those elements not specifically shown or
described herein may be selected from those known in the art. Many
of the aspects of the present description may also be implemented
in software using known programming languages.
[0027]FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of the digital camera 101
of the present invention and includes a lens or optical device 102,
an image sensor 105, an analog to digital converter 109, a microprocessor
115, an internal memory device 120, an LCD display 130, a user interface
140, a communication port 160, and a power supply 170. The digital
camera 101 may also include a removable memory card 125, a communications
transceiver or system 180, and a location system 190 such as a GPS
(global positioning system) chip.
[0028]The image sensor 105 captures an image through lens 102 and
generates an image signal which is then digitized by the A/D (analog
to digital) converter 109. The digitized signal is converted to
a RAW data image file and stored in internal memory 120. A liquid
crystal display (LCD) 130 is customarily provided for displaying
the view through lens 102, the captured and stored images, and other
information for the user. A user interface 140 is provided enabling
the user to make various selections including image format. In the
preferred embodiment, the user interface primarily consists of input
buttons which work in combination with the LCD display 130. The
internal memory device 120 may consist of a dynamic RAM memory device
for storing software for the operation of the camera 101 as well
as storing captured images. A microprocessor 115 is provided and
controls the operation of the camera 101.
[0029]The camera 101 might also include an additional removable
memory card 125. The camera 101 would also include a communication
port 160 for connecting with a PC or other device for downloading
images as well as uploading software updates or images. The camera
also includes a power supply 170 which in the preferred embodiment
consists of a battery cell or pack such as a rechargeable Lithium
ion battery.
[0030]The digital camera 101 might also include a communications
transceiver or system 180 used for wireless communication. Such
communication may be direct to a personal computer, through a WiFi
network, or over cellular or satellite communications. In addition,
the camera 101 might include a location device 190 such as a GPS
device for pinpointing the location of the camera when images are
captured, for use as a mapping device, or for use to recover the
camera if it is lost of stolen. Still further, the camera could
be a component of a multifunctional device such as a wireless phone,
such as a cell phone or wifi phone, or a portable music player.
Current trends are pushing towards an all in one device which would
include a wireless phone, music player, video player, camera, text
messaging, and e-mail system. The process, system and method of
the present invention could be employed in a multi-functional device
and would still be envisioned under the scope of the invention.
[0031]The camera 101 is provided with software resident on the
camera 101 which both operates the camera and provides the user
various options. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the software includes an option enabling the user to select to store
the same captured image in multiple formats and/or sizes. One feature
of the formats and style options of the present invention is intended
to enable users to capture an image and save it as high quality
RAW or JPEG file while simultaneously (or sequentially) saving a
much smaller JPEG file which might be ideally suited for electronic
transmission for use in e-mail or uploading to photo share websites
or photo printing service sites. In addition to file format options
such as RAW, high-quality or e-mail quality JPEG, the camera 101
of the present invention could also allow users to process different
styles or sizes. For example, the user could select to capture an
image and have it processed and saved by the camera 101 as a color
image, a black and white image, a sepia image, a landscape image,
as well as various sizes (i.e. 4:3, 4.times.6, 5.times.7, and 8.times.10).
The camera 101 would capture the image and process the image in
the user selected formats, styles, and sizes. The camera 101 may
capture and store the image data and then process the various selected
formats, styles, and sizes simultaneously, in a sequential order,
or any logical order deemed efficient for the software and camera
101.
[0032]By processing and storing the image in multiple formations,
the present invention would eliminate the need to post process the
image file on a PC after the photograph is taken. A typical size
for such an image file suitable for e-mailing would be 640 pixels.times.480
pixels, commonly referred to in the computer industry as VGA, and
at a resolution of 72 dpi which matches the typical resolution of
computer monitors. For a photographer wishing to upload or send
a large number of images in an e-mail, an additional in-camera option
to choose a smaller file size of 320.times.240 pixels is desirable.
The VGA size of 640.times.480 and the smaller size of 320.times.240
are merely exemplary as they are standards in the computer industry
and the 320.times.240 size represents an ideal size for electronic
transmission in e-mails and over the internet.
[0033]It should also be noted that RAW and JPEG file formats are
used to describe the standard formats used today throughout the
photography industry. It is possible that new file formats will
replace these in future digital cameras and the RAW and JPEG file
descriptions used herein is not meant to limit the invention to
only these file formats.
[0034]FIG. 2 provides a flowchart depicting the steps performed
by the camera for processing the captured image into two or more
formats or styles. In step 210 the image is captured and then converted
by the A/D converter in step 212 into a RAW data image file. The
raw data image file is then saved in step 213. The camera then checks
the user selected options in step 214. The camera could check the
user selected options at any point in the process including prior
to capturing the image. If the camera, in step 216, determines the
user has NOT selected more than one format or style the camera processes
and converts the captured image in to the default or user selected
format and style in step 220. The camera would then perform and
additional in-camera processing selected by the user in step 230
and would apply an appropriate file naming structure to the file
based on format and style in step 240. The file is then saved in
step 290.
[0035]Provided the camera, in step 216, determines the user has
selected two or more formats or style options the camera would simultaneously
or sequentially processes and convert the captured image into a
first user selected format in step 221, a second user selected format
in step 222, continuing until the last format or style is processed
in step 223. After processing the images in the user selected formats,
the camera would then perform and additional in-camera processing
selected by the user in steps 231, 232, and 233 respectively. The
camera would then apply an appropriate file naming structure to
the files based on format and style in steps 241, 242, and 243 respectively.
The files are then saved in step 290. The files could be saved in
appropriate folders for the various formats and styles for file
management. In step 291, the camera could then transmit selected
images or image formats electronically through the communication
port or wireless transceiver. The process would continue for each
image captures, step 210, until the user powers down the camera
ending the process as seen in step 299.
[0036]The present invention provides a way for the user of the
camera of the present invention to capture and process the image
on the camera directly from the captured image. This provides several
significant benefits. First, the present invention enables the various
formats and styles to be processed directly from the original captured
image data. Some systems require the user to select one format (i.e.
high quality JPEG) which is then downloaded to the user's PC where
the user would be forced to post process additional formats or styles
from the first selected format and not from the original raw image
data. Additionally, with improvements in memory size available on
internal and removable memory users will be able to store many more
images. Therefore, users will be able to capture many formats and
styles and then determine later which format and styles from each
captured image to keep and which to delete. Further, the camera
also provides the user the ability to have one file control other
files such that if the user selects to delete the control file it
would automatically delete all corresponding files processed into
other formats. The control file feature would allow the photographer
to more easily delete the various on camera images stemming from
the same initial image even though processed in more than one format
and possibly stored in different folders. Many users may prefer
this method as capturing many formats and styles of the images and
then deleting files is easier then post processing individual files.
[0037]Still further, the ability to capture and save images in
formats for selected functions such as high quality and e-mail quality
images provides an efficient process and system for the user.
[0038]A simple way to resize image files, to accommodate for varying
aspect ratios of the image chip of different cameras, without worrying
about aspect ratios and X and Y image dimensions is to instruct
the software to set the longest dimension, either X or Y to a certain
value, and then the shorter dimension will automatically scale to
keep the aspect ratio the same. Another advantage of using the longest
dimension to resize an image is that the camera does not need to
know if an image was taken in landscape (wide) or portrait (tall)
mode, it simply resizes the longest dimension to the predetermined
size, then adjusts the shorter side to keep the aspect ratio the
same as in the original photograph. For example, the digital camera
can have two size options for saving e-mail compatible JPEG files
where the longest dimension would be set to approximately 640 pixels
for the larger file and 320 for the smaller file. The user does
not then need to worry about the other dimension of the image or
the resolution. This is also useful because the aspect ratios of
camera imaging chips vary by camera so that it is not always possible
to reduce an image from a given camera neatly to a 640.times.480
size without cropping some portion of the image. By reducing the
longest dimension of an image to 640 or 320 pixels and automatically
resizing the shortest dimension to whatever value is required to
keep the aspect ration constant, no cropping of the image is required.
To simplify the description of the invention, the smaller files
created in the camera for the purposes of e-mailing will herein
be referred to as "E" files.
[0039]As mentioned above in conjunction with FIG. 2, the camera
101 could provide additional options for in-camera processing of
the files such as performing a post-resize sharpening on the image
to improve the perceived sharpness of the image which is an ideal
option for image formats suited for e-mail or electronic transmission.
Additional in-camera processing is desirable for several reasons.
First, when an image is reduced in size, data from the image must
be removed in order to make a smaller file. Since the smaller file
contains less information, it can appear out of focus. Second, it
is common practice when processing digital images to apply a sharpening
algorithm to the image after it has been resized. The sharpening
algorithm results in a sharper image than if the image were sharpened
before resizing. Therefore it would be undesirable for the camera
to save the large JPEG file with the sharpening algorithm applied
and then save the smaller file without any subsequent sharpening.
[0040]The camera of the present invention also provides a software
application for handling potential naming issues. Cameras typically
create sequential numerical file names when writing a file to the
storage device. When a file sized for e-mail is saved concurrent
with a larger resolution file it is ideal to have the smaller or
e-mail file named in such a way as to easily differentiate it from
the larger file. One method would be to use the same numerical file
name but add an alphabetical character, for example the letter "E"m
at the beginning or end of the file name to designate it as a file
for use in e-mail. If the camera has the option of saving two sizes
of the e-mail file, the alphabetical characters could be written
as "EL" for the large e-mail file and "ES" for
the small e-mail file, for example. Since files of this size would
take up relatively little room in a camera's memory it would not
place a severe limit on the number of photographs that can be taken
at high resolution.
[0041]The addition of the small e-mail compatible JPEG file would
save the photographer time not needed to process images for sending
by e-mails; the designated "E" files would simply be downloaded
from the camera and attached to an e-mail. It would also be desirable
for the camera to create two separate folders so that large files
are stored in one folder and the reduced "E" files are
stored in a different folder labeled for e-mail. Having separate
file folders would make it easier to keep track of the images after
they are downloaded to a computer. Having all the "E"
files in a separate folder would also greatly simplify sending images
by e-mail since the user could just attach the entire folder to
an e-mail and send it. The naming application and structure would
also apply to different styles such that black and white images
might use "BW" and sepia images much use "S"
at the beginning or end of a file name. Further, the various naming
formats could be combined such that an e-mail sized image in black
and white could have "E-BW" added to the file name.
[0042]As seen in FIG. 1, the camera 101 might include a transceiver
or communications system 180 such as a WiFi, cellular, satellite,
RF or Bluetooth device enabling the camera to communicate and connect
with a personal computer, LAN or WAN, WiFi network, and possibly
the internet (world wide web). The transceiver 180 would enable
the camera to wirelessly download the stored image files to a computer,
or transmit files electronically via e-mail or through an upload
process to some destination on the internet. Sending large files
on such networks takes up a lot of bandwidth and can tie up network
and device resources making such processes very expensive. Therefore,
making the option to save captured images in both high quality and
e-mail quality images would make it faster and cheaper to send photos
on such networks.
[0043]Another feature of the present invention provides for file
management through various automated processes or user selected
automated processes. When the user selects to save high quality
images in conjunction with e-mail or thumbnail sized images the
use may also select to have the e-mail or thumbnail sized files
automatically deleted upon a receipt notification by the end destination.
By way of example, as the camera wirelessly connects with a PC or
WiFi network the camera initiates a process to automatically transmit
the e-mail or thumbnail sized images to an internet destination
such as a photo share website or personal website, or to a connected
PC. After receipt by the photo destination the camera would receive
an end transmission receipt thereby notifying the camera that the
e-mail or thumbnail images on the camera could be automatically
deleted.
[0044]Another aspect of the file management feature which works
in combination with the camera's ability to save multiple formats
would minimize the need to upload high quality or larger files unless
the image is requested. As thumbnails, or smaller sized files, are
uploaded to the photographer's website, photo share sites or the
user's PC would enable the thumbnails to be viewed and selected
initiating a process where a signal is then sent to the Camera prompting
the camera to upload the selected high quality images. Such a system
is particularly useful for photographer's working in remote locations
and who are working with others to select photographs which will
be used (such as with a photo shoot for a magazine, photos taken
for a wedding or the like). The photographer could upload thumbnails
for others to select which initiates a process to automatically
upload the high quality (or selected image style or size) images
directly from the camera. Once the project is over the high quality
images not selected and uploaded could be deleted. Such a process
would minimize the need to upload high quality images over the internet
or even to the user's PC.
[0045]While the invention has been described in connection with
a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of
the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary,
it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents
as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0046]Further, while the invention has been described in detail
and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications
can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof. |