Selecting, arranging, and printing digital images from thumbnail images

• US 6,453,078 B2
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Brindley, Richard, Lodine, Cathryn Q., OʼSuch, William R., Ricard, Laurent P., Rinaudo, Joseph P., Bubie, Walter C.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/141,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 382/180, 382/294, 382/296, 382/305, 707/520, 707/524, 707/525, 707/517, 707/519, 707/530, 355/40, 358/453, 358/450, 345/628, 345/649, 345/689
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/114 Pagination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0045 vertically
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed from a group of thumbnail images is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of displaying the group of thumbnail images; selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, the number of images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page; automatically arranging the selected images for each page to be printed; and printing the arranged images.

Claims

1. A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, the number of images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

(c) automatically arranging and orienting if necessary the selected images for each page to be printed so as to maximize the size of the selected images to be printed on each page without regard to proper visual orientation while controlling the amount of white space between the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(d) printing the arranged images.

12. The method of claim 1 further including the step of selecting which images are to be printed on each page.

2. A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, at least two images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

(c) automatically arranging the selected images for each page to be printed, including;

(i) calculating the number of selected images in vertical and horizontal directions; and

(ii) calculating and modifying the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions so as to maximize the size of the selected images to be printed on each page without regard to proper visual orientation while controlling the amount of white space between the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(d) printing the arranged images.

3. The method of claim 2 further including initiating the printing step by selecting a print icon on the periphery of the group of thumbnail images.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the thumbnail images have a lower resolution than the captured digital images.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions is calculated and modified to minimize the amount of white space that separates the selected images.

5. A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, at least two images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

automatically arranging the selected images for each page to be printed, including;

(i) calculating the number of selected images in vertical and horizontal directions;

(ii) calculating and modifying the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions to control the amount of white space that separates the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(iii) automatically rotating appropriate ones of the selected images to either landscape or portrait orientations to fit the selected images on a corresponding page without regard to proper visual orientation; and

(e) printing the arranged images.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions is calculated and modified to minimize the amount of white space that separates the selected images.

6. A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving digital images and providing the group of thumbnail images representing the received digital images;

(b) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(c) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, at least two images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

automatically arranging and rotating if necessary the selected images for each page to be printed, including;

(i) calculating the number of selected images in vertical and horizontal directions; and

(ii) calculating and modifying the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions to control the amount of white space that separates the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(d) printing the arranged images.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the digital images are captured by a digital still camera.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the digital images are provided on a disk.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the digital images are provided by a remote network service.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions is calculated and modified to minimize the amount of white space that separates the selected images.

10. A computer program product for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, the number of images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

(c) automatically arranging and rotating if necessary the selected images for each page to be printed so as to maximize the size of the selected images to be printed on each page without regard to proper visual orientation while controlling the amount of white space between the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(d) printing the arranged images.

11. A computer program product for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, at least two images to be printed per page and the images which are to be printed on each page;

(c) automatically arranging the selected images for each page to be printed, including;

(i) calculating the number of selected images in vertical and horizontal directions; and

(ii) calculating and modifying the size of the selected images in the vertical and horizontal directions to control the amount of white space that separates the selected images to facilitate the cutting of the medium into individual pictures; and

(d) printing the arranged images.

16. A method for selecting and arranging digital images to be printed on a medium from a group of thumbnail images, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying the group of thumbnail images;

(b) a user selecting a desired image template indicating the number of images to be printed per page;

(c) the user selecting, from the group of thumbnail images, the images which are to be printed within the selected image template;

(d) automatically arranging and rotating if necessary the selected images relative to the selected image template for printing; and

(e) printing the arranged images.