Image storage queue

• US 20040201735A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Baron, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3298 Checking or indicating the storage space

Abstract

In a digital camera, images are stored in chronological order in an image storage queue, and the ability of the camera to add additional images to the queue is related to the archival status of the images already in the queue.

Claims

1. A method for handling image data within a digital camera having a memory storage unit for storing image data, the camera connectable to an external information handling system adapted to receive image data from the camera, the method comprising:

storing image data elements consecutively in an image storage queue, each image data element having an archival status; and

indicating said archival status of said image data element.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating each said image data element with a header, wherein said indicating comprises providing an indicator in said header.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each said image data element has a filename, and wherein said indicating comprises naming said filename to indicate said archival status.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicating comprises:

creating an organizational structure comprising a reserved location for archived image data elements; and

placing archived image data elements in said reserved location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

archiving one said image data element, said archiving comprising copying said image data element to the external information handling system; and

changing said archival status of said image data element to indicate that said data element is archived.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising associating each said image data element with a header, wherein said changing said archival status comprises changing the contents of said header.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said header comprises a data bit indicating archival status, wherein said changing the contents of said header comprises inverting said data bit.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said image data element has a filename comprising at least one character, and wherein said changing comprises altering said filename by at least one character.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a selection of one said image data element for archiving.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said archiving comprises:

connecting the camera to the external information handling system; and

copying said image data element from the memory storage unit in the camera to the external information handling system.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the memory storage unit includes a removable storage medium, and wherein said archiving comprises:

removing the removable storage medium from the camera;

connecting the removable storage medium to the external information handling system; and

copying said image data element from the removable storage medium to the external information handling system.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that the memory storage unit is full;

determining that at least one said image data element in said image storage queue has been archived; and

deleting from the memory storage unit at least one said archived image data element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said deleting comprises deleting the last said data element in said image storage queue from the memory storage unit.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that the memory storage unit is full;

determining that no said image data element in said image storage queue has been archived; and

notifying a user that the memory storage unit is full.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an image data element for deletion; and

deleting said selected image data element from the memory storage unit.

16. A digital camera adapted for connection to an external information handling system, the camera comprising:

a controller;

an image acquisition unit electrically connected to said controller; and

a memory storage unit;

wherein image data elements each having an archival status are stored in said memory storage unit chronologically in an image storage queue.

17. The camera of claim 16, wherein said memory storage unit comprises media removable from the camera.

18. A computer program product for controlling the handling of image data within a digital camera having a memory storage unit for storing image data, the camera connectable to an external information handling system adapted to receive image data from the camera, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for storing image data elements consecutively in an image storage queue, each image data element having an archival status; and

instructions for indicating said archival status of said image data element.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for archiving one said image data element, said archiving comprising copying said image data element to the external information handling system; and

instructions for changing said archival status of said image data element to indicate that said data element is archived.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

instructions for determining that the memory storage unit is full;

instructions for determining that at least one said image data element in said image storage queue has been archived; and

instructions for deleting from the memory storage unit at least one said archived image data element.