Digital camera/computer synchronization method

• US 20040036774A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Candid Color Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Candid Color Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Nichols, Kenneth E., Nichols, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/21 Intermediate information storage H04N1/387, H04N1/41 take precedence ; for control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32358; indexing, editing G11B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/212 Motion video recording combined with still video recording television signal recording H04N5/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

A method for matching a photographic image with related identifying data, including the steps of creating a digital image that includes a datafile containing image time data, generating a signal when the digital image is created, and storing in a digital storage device identifying information relevant to the digital image. The identifying information also has information time data associated therewith. A signal is transmitted to the digital storage device and a time stamp is applied to the signal at the digital storage device. The image time data is stored in the digital storage device in time sequenced order. The image time data and the information time data are synchronized, and the digital image is associated with the identifying information by matching the synchronized image time data and the information time data.

Claims

1. A method for matching a photographic image with related identifying data, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a digital image that includes a datafile containing image time data;

(b) generating a signal when the digital image is created;

(c) storing in a digital storage device identifying information relevant to the digital image, the identifying information also having information time data associated therewith;

(d) transmitting a signal to the digital storage device;

(e) applying a time stamp to the signal at the digital storage device;

(f) storing the image time data in the digital storage device in time sequenced order;

(g) synchronizing the image time data and the information time data; and

(h) associating the digital image with the identifying information by matching the synchronized image time data and the information time data.

2. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a digital image comprises the step of creating a digital image with a digital still camera.

3. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of providing a digital storage device comprises the step of providing a PDA.

4. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of providing a digital storage device comprises the step of providing a computer.

5. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting a signal to the digital storage device includes the step of monitoring a flash circuit integral with the digital still camera and transmitting the signal to the digital storage device in response to closure of the flash circuit.

6. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 5, and including the steps of:

(a) connecting an interface apparatus to a PC connector on the digital camera;

(b) connecting a flash unit to a PC connector on the interface apparatus;

(c) connecting the interface apparatus to the digital storage device; and

(d) transmitting a flash signal from the digital camera to the digital storage device through the interface apparatus.

7. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 5, and including the steps of:

(a) connecting an interface apparatus to a universal hot shoe on the digital camera;

(b) connecting the interface apparatus to the digital storage device; and

(c) transmitting a flash signal from the digital camera to the digital storage device through the interface apparatus.

8. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 7, and including the steps of:

(a) connecting an external flash unit to the interface apparatus; and

(b) utilizing light from the flash unit to create the digital image.

9. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 5, and including the steps of:

(a) providing a light sensor remote from the digital camera for sensing a light flash generated by the flash circuit;

(b) providing an interface apparatus interconnecting the light sensor and the digital storage device;

(c) sensing a light flash generated by the flash circuit; and

(d) transmitting a signal from the light sensor to the digital storage device;

(e) storing the signal in the digital storage device with time data applied at the digital storage device.

10. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 2, and including the step of storing the identifying information in the digital storage device by scanning indicia from a source external to the digital storage device.

11. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, wherein the step of synchronizing the image time data and the information time data comprises the steps of:

(a) determining the image time data and the information time data before creation of a digital image;

(b) determining the time difference between the image time data and the information time data;

(c) storing the time difference; and

(d) upon creation of each digital image, synchronizing the image time data and the information time data using the stored time difference to match the image time data and the information time data.

12. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 10, wherein the source of identifying information is a bar code.

13. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 10, wherein the step of storing the identifying information comprises the step of storing the data in a PDA.

14. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 10, wherein the step of storing the identifying information comprises the step of entering the data by means of a keyboard connected to the digital storage device.

15. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, and including a printer for outputting a printed receipt containing information matching the digital image and the identifying information.

16. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, wherein the digital image is a digital photograph of a person and the identifying information is information selected from the group consisting of the name of the person photographed, the name of the customer, an address, a telephone number, an e-mail address, instructions on how to view the digital photograph on a website, and instructions on how to purchase the digital photograph.

17. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, and including the steps of:

(a) providing an interface apparatus with tilt sensors for sensing whether the digital image is taken in a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation;

(b) defining either the landscape orientation or the portrait orientation as an upright viewing orientation;

(c) sensing whether the digital image is taken in a landscape or portrait orientation;

(d) if the digital image is not in the predefined upright viewing orientation, rotating the digital image into the viewing orientation; and

(e) providing the digital image in the upright viewing orientation for viewing.

18. A method for matching a photographic image according to claim 1, wherein the step of synchronizing the image time data and the information time data comprises resetting the information time data to match the image time data.

19. A method for matching a photographic image with related identifying data, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a digital image with a camera that has an internal clock that outputs a file containing image time data indicating the internal clock time when the digital image is created;

(b) providing an digital scanner, including an internal clock and a timestamp circuit, operatively connected to a digital storage device having an internal clock;

(c) setting the internal clock of the scanner to match the internal clock of the digital storage device;

(d) setting the internal clock of the camera to match the internal clock of the digital storage device;

(e) utilizing the digital scanner to scan into the digital storage device identifying information relevant to the digital image;

(f) generating a time signal when the digital image is created;

(g) transmitting the time signal to the digital storage device;

(h) determining a time difference between the image time data from the digital camera and the matched internal clock times from the scanner and the digital storage device;

(i) synchronizing the image time data from the camera and the matched internal clock times from the scanner and the digital storage device;

(j) storing the image time data in the digital storage device in time sequenced order; and

(k) associating the digital image with the identifying information by matching the synchronized image time data and the information time data.