System/method for controlling parameters in hand-held digital camera with selectable parameter scripts, and with command for retrieving camera capabilities and associated permissible parameter values

• US 6,134,606 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric, Scardino, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TANH Q
• Application Number:
  US08/900,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 396/48, 396/57, 396/281, 396/297, 396/429, 710/8, 710/10, 710/14, 709/227, 709/228, 703/27
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for controlling parameters in an electronic imaging device comprises a series of parameter storage locations coupled to the imaging device for containing parameter value sets, a set of parameter commands for controlling the parameter value sets, and a parameter manager device for executing the set of parameter commands to control the parameters in the electronic imaging device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling parameters in a hand held electronic device, comprising:

a series of parameters storage locations coupled to said electronic device for containing value sets corresponding to said parameters, wherein said parameters include an exposure mode specification, focus mode specification, strobe mode specification, zoom position specification, shutter speed specification, and focus distance specification;

a set of parameter commands for controlling said value sets within said series of parameter storage locations, wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetCapabilities command which retrieves information, capabilities and permissible values for selected parameters that are supported in said device;

a plurality of parameter scripts that are selectively chosen by a system user and executed by said device to initiate and control said set of parameter commands; and

a parameter manager coupled to said electronic device for executing said set of parameter commands to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said series of parameter storage locations include:

a current parameters location containing value sets corresponding to current parameters within said electronic device;

a user defaults location containing value sets corresponding to user defaults within said electronic device; and

a factory defaults location containing value sets corresponding to factory defaults within said electronic device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said current parameters location is in a random-access memory, said user defaults location is in an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory, and said factory defaults location is in a non-volatile memory.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetState command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said current parameters location to an external command source.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetState command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location based on information received from an external command source.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said user defaults location to a processor within said electronic device.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said user defaults location based on information selectively obtained from one of a processor within said electronic device, an external command source, said current parameters location and said factory defaults location.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a RestoreDefault command which causes said parameter manager to restore one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location to information selected from said user defaults location.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of parameter commands are originated by an external command source and wherein said parameter manager responsively accesses parameter information in a resource file to control said parameters.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said parameter manager acts on all of said parameters in one of said series of parameter locations if a corresponding one of said set of parameter commands does not specify a particular one of said parameters.

11. A method for controlling parameters in a hand held electronic device, comprising said steps of:

storing value sets corresponding to said parameters into a series of parameter storage locations, wherein said parameters include an exposure mode specification, focus mode specification, strobe mode specification, zoom position specification, shutter speed specification, and focus distance specification;

providing a set of parameter commands for controlling said value sets within said series of parameter storage locations, wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetCapabilities command which retrieves information, capabilities and permissible values for selected parameters that are supported in said device;

providing a plurality of parameter scripts that are selectively chosen by a system user and executed by said device to initiate and control said set of parameter commands; and

executing said set of parameter commands using a parameter manager to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said series of parameter storage locations include:

a current parameters location containing value sets corresponding to current parameters within said electronic device;

a user defaults location containing value sets corresponding to user defaults within said electronic device; and

a factory defaults location containing value sets corresponding to factory defaults within said electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said current parameters location is in a random-access memory, said user defaults location is in an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory, and said factory defaults location is in a non-volatile memory.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetState command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said current parameters location to a processor within said electronic device.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetState command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location based on information received from a processor within said electronic device.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said factory defaults location to an external command source.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said user defaults location based on information selectively obtained from one of a processor within said electronic device, an external command source, said current parameters location and said factory defaults location.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a RestoreDefault command which causes said parameter manager to restore one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location to information selected from said factory defaults location.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for controlling parameters in a hand held electronic device by performing said steps of:

storing value sets corresponding to said parameters into a series of parameter storage locations, wherein said parameters include an exposure mode specification, focus mode specification, strobe mode specification, zoom position specification, shutter speed specification, and focus distance specification;

providing a set of parameter commands for controlling said value sets within said series of parameter storage locations, wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetCapabilities command which retrieves information capabilities and permissible values for selected parameters that are supported in said device;

providing a plurality of parameter scripts that are selectively chosen by a system user and executed by said device to initiate and control said set of parameter commands; and

executing said set of parameter commands using a parameter manager to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein said medium is a memory device which is removable from said electronic device for reprogramming, and which contains scripts that execute said set of parameter commands to cause said parameter manager to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters.

21. A system for controlling parameters in a hand held electronic device, comprising:

means for storing value sets corresponding to said parameters into a series of parameter storage locations, wherein said parameters include an exposure mode specification, focus mode specification, strobe mode specification, zoom position specification, shutter speed specification, and focus distance specification;

means for providing a set of parameter commands for controlling said value sets within said series of parameter storage locations, wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetCapabilities command which retrieves information, capabilities and permissible values for selected parameters that are supported in said device;

means for providing a plurality of parameter scripts that are selectively chosen by a system user and executed by said device to initiate and control said set of parameter commands; and

means for executing said set of parameter commands using a parameter manager to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters.

22. A system for controlling parameters in a hand held digital camera, comprising:

a series of parameters storage locations coupled to said digital camera for containing value sets corresponding to said parameters, wherein said parameters include an exposure mode specification, focus mode specification, strobe mode specification, zoom position specification, shutter speed specification, and focus distance specification;

a set of parameter commands for controlling said value sets within said series of parameter storage locations, wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetCapabilities command which retrieves information, capabilities and permissible values for selected parameters that are supported in said digital camera;

a plurality of parameter scripts that are selectively chosen by a system user and executed by said device to initiate and control said set of parameter commands; and

a parameter manager coupled to said digital camera for executing said set of parameter commands to control said value sets corresponding to said parameters, said parameter storage locations including;

a current parameters location containing value sets corresponding to current parameters within said digital camera;

a user defaults location containing value sets corresponding to user defaults within said digital camera;

a factory defaults location containing value sets corresponding to factory defaults within said digital camera; and

wherein said current parameters location is in a random-access memory, said user defaults locations is in an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory, and said factory defaults location is in a non-volatile memory.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetState command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said current parameters location to an external command source.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetState command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location based on information received from an external command source.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a GetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to provide one or more of said value sets from said user defaults location to a processor within said digital camera.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a SetDefault command which causes said parameter manager to set one or more of said value sets in said user defaults location based on information selectively obtained from one of a processor within said digital camera, an external command source, said current parameters location and said factory defaults location.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands includes a RestoreDefault command which causes said parameter manager to restore one or more of said value sets in said current parameters location to information selected from said user defaults location.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein said set of parameter commands are originated by an external command source and wherein said parameter manager responsively accesses parameter information in a resource file to control said parameters.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said parameter manager acts on all of said parameters in one of said series of parameter locations if a corresponding one of said set of parameter commands does not specify a particular one of said parameters.