Digital camera with voice recognition annotation

• US 6,721,001 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Tia M.
• Application Number:
  US09/213,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.3, 348/231.4, 348/231.5, 348/207.1, 348/211.3, 348/231.6
• US Class Current: 348/231.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/806 with processing of the sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8233 the additional signal being a character code signal

Abstract

A digital camera which allows voice annotations to be recorded for each picture, but which includes text annotations with each such picture when the picture is transmitted from the camera. The digital camera includes an image sensing apparatus operable to receive light comprising an image and output image data representing the image, a first memory operable to store the image data, a sound sensing apparatus operable to receive a sound and output sound data representing the sound, wherein the sound is speech and the sound data is voice data, a second memory operable to store the voice data, a third memory operable to store text data; and a voice recognition apparatus operable to access the second memory, translate the stored voice data into text data and store the text data in the third memory, when the digital camera is provided with external power. In one embodiment, the voice recognition apparatus includes a microprocessor operable to execute image capture routines, voice recording routines and voice recognition routines. The microprocessor may be further operable to execute data transfer routines.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

an image sensing apparatus operable to receive light comprising an image and output digital image data representing the image as a picture;

a digital memory including first, second, third, and fourth storage areas within the memory;

digital image data stored in the first storage area of the digital memory;

a sound sensing apparatus operable to receive a sound and output sound data representing the sound, wherein the sound is speech and the sound data is voice data;

voice data stored in the second storage area of the digital memory;

text data stored in the third storage area of the digital memory;

a voice recognition apparatus operable to access the second storage area, translate the stored voice data into text data and store the text data in the third storage area, when the digital camera is provided with external power; and

image, voice and text data of a picture stored in contiguous locations in the fourth storage area of the digital memory.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising

an I/O adapter operable to access the first memory and the third memory and transmit the stored image data and the stored text data, when the digital camera is communicatively connected to an external device.

3. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the image data represents a picture, the voice data represents a voice annotation associated with the picture, and the text data is a text annotation associated with the picture.

4. The digital camera of claim 3, further comprising information that modifies the text annotation.

5. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprises:

a microprocessor within the camera programmed to perform image capture routines, voice recording routines, voice recognition routines and text routines within the microprocessor.

6. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is further operable to execute data transfer routines.

7. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein external power and communications connections are provided by a cradle assembly for recharging, initiating voice recognition processes and connections to external networks and systems.

8. A method of operating a digital camera comprising the steps of:

receiving light comprising an image and outputting digital image data representing the image;

storing the image data as a picture in a first storage area of a digital memory;

receiving a sound and outputting sound data representing the sound, wherein the sound is speech and the sound data is voice data;

storing the voice data in a second storage area of the digital memory

translating the stored voice data into text data, when the digital camera is supplied with external power;

storing the text data in a third storage area of the digital memory; and

storing the image, voice and text data of each picture in contiguous locations in a fourth storage area of the digital memory.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the stored image data and the stored text data, when the digital camera is communicatively connected to an external device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the image data represents a picture, the voice data represents a voice annotation associated with the picture, and the text data is a text annotation associated with the picture.

11. The digital camera of claim 10, further comprising information that modifies the text annotation.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

performing in a microprocessor within the camera image capture routines, voice recording routines, voice recognition routines and text routines programmed within the microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is further operable to execute data transfer routines.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing external power and communications connections with a cradle assembly for recharging, initiating voice recognition processes and connections to external networks and systems.

15. A digital camera comprising:

means for receiving light comprising an image and outputting digital image data representing the image as a picture;

a digital memory having first, second, third and fourth storage areas within the digital memory

means for storing the image data in the first storage area of the digital memory;

means for receiving a sound and outputting sound data representing the sound, wherein the sound is speech and the sound data is voice data;

means for storing the voice data in the second storage area of the digital memory;

means for translating the stored recorded voice data into text data, when the digital camera is supplied with external power;

means for storing text data in the third storage area of the digital memory; and

means for storing image, voice and text data of each picture in contiguous locations in the fourth storage area of the digital memory.

16. The digital camera of claim 15, further comprising:

means for transmitting the stored image data and the stored text data, when the digital camera is communicatively connected to an external device.

17. The digital camera of claim 15, wherein the image data represents a picture, the voice data represents a voice annotation associated with the picture, and the text data is a text annotation associated with the picture.

18. The digital camera of claim 17, further comprising information that modifies the text annotation.

19. The digital camera of claim 15 comprising:

a microprocessor within the camera programmed to perform image capture routines, voice recording routines, voice recognition routines and text routines within the microprocessor.

20. The digital camera of claim 19, wherein the microprocessor is further operable to execute data transfer routines.

21. The digital camera of claim 15, further comprising:

means for providing external power and communications for recharging, initiating voice recognition processes and connections to external networks and systems.