Digital camera user interface and method

• US 20050041110A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liebenow, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/646,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20050041110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters

Abstract

A user interface of a digital camera permits the user to set the camera to a setting that represents what they want to do with the resulting image, rather than all of the parameters that are necessary to produce the image. Each of a set of aliases, shortcuts, vectors, or the like represent a set of parameter settings. The shortcuts are assigned names which are related to the final use of the image produced with that parameter set, that is, a name the user can understand. For example, these settings'"'"' names may be “email”, “up to 4×6”, “up to 5×7”, “up to 8×10”, or “best quality possible.” With these settings, if the user is taking pictures to email or view on a PC, then a lower resolution and compression parameter can be used. If the user wants to make 8×10 prints, they select that shortcut and the camera adjusts resolution and compression to deliver images that will produce good 8×10 prints.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a digital camera capable of capturing an image, the method comprising:

providing more than one format selection to be used in capturing the digital image, each format selection corresponding to a unique set of parameters for the capture of the digital image;

selecting one format selection; and

retrieving a set of parameters associated with the format selection.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

setting the operational parameters of the camera to the retrieved set of parameters.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

capturing the digital image using said set of parameters.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the set of parameters comprises resolution and compression level.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein providing comprises providing at least two format selections, the set of parameters of a first format selection including a higher resolution setting than that of the set of parameters of a second format selection.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein providing comprises providing at least two format selections, the set of parameters of a first format selection including a higher compression setting than that of the set of parameters of a second format selection.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one parameter of the set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of height resolution, width resolution, total resolution, compression level, color depth, stereoscopic toggle, black/white-color toggle, black/white greyscale level, and combinations thereof.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the set of parameters consists of resolution and compression level.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a unique name to each of the format selections.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a unique icon to each of the format selections.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

assigning the parameters associated with a format selection to default values.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

modifying at least one parameter of a set of parameters associated with a format selection.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

generating a new format selection including an associated set of parameters.

14. A digital camera user interface comprising:

means for assigning at least one shortcut to a unique set of operational parameters of the digital camera; and

means for permitting a user to select the at least one shortcut.

15. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, wherein the operational parameters comprise resolution and compression level.

16. A user interface in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one shortcut comprises at least two shortcuts, the set of parameters of a first shortcut including a higher resolution setting than that of the set of parameters of a second shortcut.

17. A user interface in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one shortcut comprises at least two shortcuts, the set of parameters of a first shortcut including a higher compression setting than that of the set of parameters of a second shortcut.

18. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

means for changing at least one parameter of a set of parameters of at least one shortcut.

19. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

means for changing the settings of the digital camera to include the set of operational parameters.

20. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, wherein the means for permitting further comprises:

means for bypassing the at least one shortcut; and

means for permitting a user to directly select camera operational parameters.

21. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

means for adding a new shortcut and assigning operational parameters to said new shortcut.

22. A user interface in accordance with claim 21, wherein the means for assigning operational parameters to said new shortcut comprises means for assigning default values for said operational parameters.

23. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, further comprising means for assigning the parameters associated with a shortcut to default values.

24. A user interface in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one parameter of the set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of height resolution, width resolution, total resolution, compression level, color depth, stereoscopic toggle, black/white-color toggle, black/white greyscale level, and combinations thereof.

25. A digital camera user interface comprising:

logic configured to assign at least one shortcut to a unique set of operational parameters of the digital camera; and

logic configured to permit a user to select the at least one shortcut.

26. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, wherein the operational parameters comprise resolution and compression level.

27. A user interface in accordance with claim 26, wherein the at least one shortcut comprises at least two shortcuts, the set of parameters of a first shortcut including a higher resolution setting than that of the set of parameters of a second shortcut.

28. A user interface in accordance with claim 26, wherein the at least one shortcut comprises at least two shortcuts, the set of parameters of a first shortcut including a higher compression setting than that of the set of parameters of a second shortcut.

29. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, further comprising:

logic configured to change at least one parameter of a set of parameters of at least one shortcut.

30. A user interface in accordance with claim 29, further comprising:

logic configured to change the settings of the digital camera to include the set of operational parameters.

31. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, wherein the logic configured to permit further comprises:

logic configured to bypass the at least one shortcut; and

logic configured to permit a user to directly select camera operational parameters.

32. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, further comprising:

logic configured to add a new shortcut and assign operational parameters to said new shortcut.

33. A user interface in accordance with claim 32, wherein the logic configured to assign operational parameters to said new shortcut comprises logic configured to assign default values for said operational parameters.

34. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, further comprising logic configured to assign the parameters associated with a shortcut to default values.

35. A user interface in accordance with claim 25, wherein at least one parameter of the set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of height resolution, width resolution, total resolution, compression level, color depth, stereoscopic toggle, black/white-color toggle, black/white greyscale level, and combinations thereof.