Software driver digital camera system with image storage tags

• US 5,943,093 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C., Masukawa, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia M.
• Application Number:
  US08/718,957
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 348/220, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/221, 348/362
• US Class Current: 348/231.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2133 Recording or reproducing at a specific moment, e.g. time interval or time-lapse
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/215 Recording a sequence of still pictures, e.g. burst mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

A method for systematic generation of one or more image groups to relate a plurality of images as a single group includes providing an image command sequence. The image command sequence controls an image capture session comprising one of a plurality of capture types, and further includes a first command, the first command initiating the image capture session and formation of a first group, a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters characterizing the first group as one of at least two image capture group formats, and a second command, the second command ending the image capture session, wherein the image command sequence results in the single group of related images, and wherein the related plurality of images are identified through use of the single group. A system includes a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing image data, and a central processing unit within the digital image capture device. The central processing unit capably coordinates an image command sequence, the image command sequence controlling an image capture session and including a first command, the first command initiating the image capture session and formation of a first group, a plurality of parameters, and a second command, the second command ending the image capture session, wherein the image command sequence results in the single group of related images.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium including program instructions for systematic generation by a digital image capture device of one or more image groups to relate a plurality of images as a single group the program instructions for:

receiving a selection of capture types from a user, wherein the capture types include a still capture, a burst capture, and a time lapse capture;

in response to the depression of a shutter button, providing an image command sequence, the image command sequence controlling an image capture session and further comprising;

a first software command, the first software command initiating the image capture session and formation of a first group;

a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters characterizing the capture type and a group type for the first group; and

a second software command, the second software command ending the image capture session, wherein the image command sequence results in the single group of related images; and

storing the single group of related images in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags are stored with the single group of related images, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.

2. A method for systematic generation of one or more image groups by a digital image capture device to relate a plurality of images as a single group, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of capture types from a user, the capture types including a still capture, a burst capture, and a time lapse capture;

in response to a depression of the shutter button, providing an image command sequence, the image command sequence controlling an image capture session and further comprising;

a first software command, the first software command initiating the image capture session and formation of a first group;

a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters characterizing the capture type and a group type for the first group; and

a second software command, the second software command ending the image capture session, wherein the image command sequence results in the single group of related images, and

storing the single group of related images in the digital image capture device, wherein a plurality of tags are stored with the single group of related images, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the group type comprises a natural group and a programmed group, wherein the natural group comprises a set of images related by the capture type, and the programmed group comprises a set of images grouped by program commands within the digital image capture device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of parameters further comprise a period of delay between image captures in the time lapse capture.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the programmed group further comprise panorama sequences.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the programmed group further comprise user-defined sequences.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the programmed group further comprise exposure autobracket sequences.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the parameter for the group type further comprises a value indicating one of a plurality of capture types.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a first value indicates a natural group capture.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a second value indicates a programmed group capture.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a third value indicates a still image capture.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a fourth value indicates a live viewfinder capture.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the second software command further comprises the first software command of another image capture session not allowed to occur during the image capture session and formation of the first group.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of capture types include a single still image capture, a live image capture, a natural image group capture, and programmed image group capture.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the natural image group capture includes one of a burst sequence and a time lapse sequence.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the programmed image group capture includes one of a panorama sequence group and an exposure autobracket group.

17. A system for systematic generation of one or more image groups to relate a plurality of images as a single group, the system comprising:

a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing image data, the digital image capture device capable of receiving a selection of capture types from a user, wherein the capture types include a still capture, a burst capture, and a time lapse capture; and

a central processing unit, the central processing unit within the digital image capture device and capable of providing an image command sequence in response to a depression of a shutter button by the user, the image command sequence controlling an image capture session and further comprising;

a first software command, the first software command initiating the image capture session and formation of a first group;

a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters characterizing the capture type and a group type for the first group; and

a second software command, the second software command ending the image capture session, wherein the image command sequence results in the single group of related images, and

a storage unit for storing the single group of related images, wherein a plurality of tags are stored with the single group of related images, wherein the plurality of tags comprise tags identifying group types, tags identifying group sequence numbers, and tags identifying group data fields.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a first value of the parameters indicating the group type indicates a natural group capture, and a second value indicates a programmed group capture.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of capture types include a single still image capture, a live image capture, a natural image group capture, and programmed image group capture.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the natural image group capture includes one of a burst sequence and a time lapse sequence.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the programmed image group capture includes one of a panorama sequence group and an exposure autobracket group.