Image application software providing a list of user selectable tasks

• US 20030161003A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Herbert, Leslie Beth
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0045 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

A method of using stored digital images transferred from an imaging device includes receiving and storing images from the imaging device in a memory associated with a computer, receiving at least one control file from the imaging device which indicates a prior intention for subsequent use of the stored images, and the computer responding to the control file to create and display a list of tasks selectable by a computer user in accordance with the prior intention. The method also includes the computer user selecting at least one of the tasks from the list, and the computer responding to the user selected task(s) to initiate the use of images indicated by the selected task(s).

Claims

1. A method of using stored digital images transferred from an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving and storing images from the imaging device in a memory associated with a computer;

b) receiving at least one control file from the imaging device which indicates a prior intention for subsequent use of the stored images,

c) the computer responding to the control file to create and display a list of tasks selectable by a computer user in accordance with the prior intention;

d) the computer user selecting at least one of the tasks from the list; and

e) the computer responding to the user selected task(s) to initiate the use of images indicated by the selected task(s).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transferred digital images include corresponding thumbnail images.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the displayed list of task(s) includes thumbnail images of corresponding digital images.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein there are multiple control files, one of which includes the desired number of copies to be printed and which is included in a first task, and another control file which includes at least one email address where digital images are to be sent and is included in a second task, and wherein the user selects either the first or second task to be initiated by the computer.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of the user modifying the task prior to step e).

6. The method of claim 4 further including the step of the user modifying the task prior to step e).

13. The method of claim 1I wherein the plurality of control files are provided by the camera capturing a first set of digital images and producing a first control file, the computer receiving the first control file and the first set of digital images from the digital camera, the computer then causing the first control file and the first set of digital images to be erased from the digital camera, the digital camera subsequently capturing a second set of digital images and producing a second control file, and the computer receiving the second control file and the second set of digital images, prior to step f).

16. A computer storage product having at least one computer storage medium having instructions stored therein causing one or more computers to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A method of using stored digital images transferred from a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving and storing digital images and corresponding thumbnail images from the digital camera in a memory associated with a computer;

b) receiving a control file from the digital camera which indicates a prior intention for subsequently making prints of the digital image(s) or sending such image(s) to a remote location;

c) the computer responding to the control file to create a list of tasks selectable by the computer user in accordance with the prior intention;

d) displaying the list of selectable task(s) and the thumbnail images associated with the images to be used for the selected task(s) and a computer user selecting a task; and

e) the computer responding to the user selected task(s) to initiate the use of images indicated by the selected task(s).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein there are multiple control files, one of which includes a desired number of copies to be printed using one of the digital images and which is included in a first task, and another of which includes a remote location where digital images are to be sent and which is included in a second task, and wherein the user selects either the first or second task to be initiated by the computer.

9. The method of claim 7 further including the step of the user modifying the task prior to step e).

10. The method of claim 8 further including the step of the user modifying the task prior to step e).

11. A method of using stored images captured by a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) using the digital camera to capture digital images and store such captured digital images in a digital memory;

b) a user selecting particular digital images and indicating a plurality of intentions to use such captured digital images;

c) the camera producing a plurality of control files in accordance with the user indicated plurality of intentions, the control files including identifiers corresponding to the user selected particular digital images, and storing such control files in the digital memory;

d) the computer receiving the control files from the digital camera;

e) the computer responding to the control files to create a list of tasks selectable by the computer user in accordance with the plurality of intentions;

f) the computer displaying the list of selectable tasks and the computer user selecting one of the tasks; and

g) the computer responding to the user selected task to initiate the use of images indicated by the selected task.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the control files include a first control file which includes the desired number of copies of digital images to be printed and which is included in a first task, and a second control file which includes an email address where digital images are to be sent and is included in a second task, and the user selecting either the first or second task to be initiated by the computer.

14. The method of claim 12 further including the step of a user modifying the task prior to step g).

15. A method of capturing and using stored images captured by a digital camera, comprising the steps of:

a) using a digital camera to capture digital images and store such captured digital images in a digital memory;

b) the user selecting particular digital images and indicating an intention to use such captured digital images;

c) the camera producing a control file in accordance with the user indicated intention, and including identifiers corresponding to the user selected particular digital images, and storing such control file in the digital memory;

d) the computer receiving the control file from the digital camera;

e) the computer responding to the control file to create a list including at least one task selectable by the computer user in accordance with the user indicated intention;

f) the computer initiating deletion of the control file and the digital images from the digital memory of the digital camera;

g) subsequent to step f), the computer displaying the list of selectable tasks and the computer user selecting one of the tasks; and

h) the computer responding to the user selected task to initiate the use of images indicated by the selected task.