Digital camera including an on-line sales mode

• US 20040201690A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Bryant, Steven M., Lyon, Lonne R., Wolf, Edward O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00185 Image output for details of particular output arrangements see the relevant sub-class, e.g. B41J, G03B, G09G, G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0008 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters

Abstract

A digital camera comprises an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images; a processor for processing the plurality of images and producing a corresponding plurality of digital image files; a memory for storing the plurality of digital image files; and a mode control for selecting between a normal mode and an on-line sales mode.

Claims

1. A digital camera, comprising:

a) an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images;

b) a processor for processing the plurality of images and producing a corresponding plurality of digital image files;

c) a memory for storing the plurality of digital image files; and

d) a mode control for selecting between a normal mode and an

2. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein, when the on-line sales mode has been selected, the processor provides a smaller image file than when the normal mode has been selected.

3. The digital camera of claim 2 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

4. The digital camera of claim 2 wherein the processor further provides a lower contrast tone reproduction curve than when the normal mode has been selected.

5. The digital camera of claim 4 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

6. The digital camera of claim 1 further including a user interface having a user control for grouping the plurality of stored digital image files into a plurality of image groups.

7. The digital camera of claim 6 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

8. The digital camera of claim 6 wherein the user interface further includes a user control for identifying a favorite image from each of the plurality of image groups.

9. The digital camera of claim 8 wherein the memory further stores a control file identifying the plurality of favorite images and the corresponding plurality of image groups.

10. The digital camera of claim 9 wherein the plurality of digital image files are stored as JPEG files using the DCF directory structure.

11. A digital imaging system for producing electronic job pages, comprising:

a) a digital camera comprising;

i) an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images;

ii) a processor for processing the plurality of images and producing a corresponding plurality of digital image files;

iii) a camera memory for storing the plurality of digital image files; and

iv) a mode control for selecting between a normal mode and an on-line sales mode, wherein the camera memory further stores data indicating whether the plurality of digital images were captured in the normal mode or in the on-line sales mode; and

b) a computer comprising;

i) a computer memory for storing digital images files transferred from the camera; and

ii) means for producing electronic job pages using the transferred digital image files only when the data stored in the camera memory indicates that the transferred digital image files were captured in the on-line sales mode.

12. The digital imaging system of claim 11 wherein, when the on-line sales mode has been selected, the processor provides a smaller image file than when the normal mode has been selected.

13. The digital imaging system of claim 12 wherein the processor further provides a lower contrast tone reproduction curve than when the normal mode has been selected.

14. The digital imaging system of claim 11 further including a user interface having a user control for grouping the plurality of stored digital image files into a plurality of image groups.

15. The digital imaging system of claim 14 wherein the user interface further includes a user control for identifying a favorite image from each, of the plurality of image groups.

16. The digital imaging system of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores a control file identifying the plurality of favorite images and the corresponding plurality of image groups.

17. The digital imaging system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of digital image files are stored as JPEG files using the DCF directory structure.

18. A digital camera, comprising:

a) an image sensor for capturing a plurality of images;

b) a processor for processing the plurality of images and producing a corresponding plurality of digital image files;

c) a memory for storing the plurality of digital image files; and

d) a mode control for selecting between a normal mode and an on-line sales mode, wherein the camera memory further stores data indicating whether the plurality of digital images were captured in the normal mode or in the on-line sales mode.

19. The digital camera of claim 18 wherein, when the on-line sales mode has been selected, the processor provides a smaller image file than when the normal mode has been selected.

20. The digital camera of claim 19 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

21. The digital camera of claim 19 wherein the processor further provides a lower contrast tone reproduction curve than when the normal mode has been selected.

22. The digital camera of claim 21 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

23. The digital camera of claim 18 further including a user interface having a user control for grouping the plurality of stored digital image files into a plurality of image groups.

24. The digital camera of claim 23 wherein the smaller image file is used to produce an electronic job page.

25. The digital camera of claim 23 wherein the user interface further includes a user control for identifying a favorite image from each of the plurality of image groups.

26. The digital camera of claim 25 wherein the memory further stores a control file identifying the plurality of favorite images and the corresponding plurality of image groups.

27. The digital camera of claim 26 wherein the plurality of digital image files are stored as JPEG files using the DCF directory structure.