Digital docking system user interface method and apparatus

• US 7,113,218 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stockton, Kenneth Ross, Cazier, Robert P., Battles, Amy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): MADDEN, GREGORY VINCENT
• Application Number:
  US10/271,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.2, 348/373, 348/375, 348/372, 348/33.01, 348/333.02, 348/552, 348/207.99
• US Class Current: 348/373
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0027 Adapting to communicate with plural different types of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications

Abstract

A digital camera docking system user interface provides, on the display of the digital camera, information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system. The user interface may guide the user in the initiation of interactions between the digital camera and external devices such as television monitors, personal computers, and printers and may also provide feedback regarding the progress of these interactions.

Claims

1. A method for providing a digital camera docking system user interface, comprising:

detecting, in a digital camera docking system comprising a digital camera connected with a docking station, the presence of at least one connected other external device, when at least one other external device is connected with the docking station;

providing, on a display of the digital camera, information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system; and

wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises, for each connected other external device, a non-textual graphic representing a control element on the docking station, the control element actuating a corresponding control function that initiates an interaction of the digital camera with that connected other external device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic is annotated with text indicating that activating the represented control element on the docking station will actuate the corresponding control function.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

removing the graphic and its associated annotation from the display after the interaction has been completed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic is annotated with an arrow pointing to the represented control element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shape of the graphic suggests the shape of the represented control element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the color of the graphic suggests the color of the represented control element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphic includes a pictorial representation of that connected other external device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the interaction in response to a second activation of the control element following initiation of the interaction in response to a first activation of the control element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises, for each connected other external device, text explaining how to initiate, from the docking station, an interaction of the digital camera with that connected other external device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises instructions for initiating, from a connected external device, an interaction of the digital camera with the connected external device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises an indication of the progress of an interaction of the digital camera with a connected other external device.

12. A digital camera docking system, comprising:

a digital camera, the digital camera having a display;

a docking station connected with the digital camera, the docking station having at least one connection for other external devices;

a control function corresponding to each of the at least one connection for other external devices, the actuation of each control function initiating an interaction of the digital camera with the corresponding other external device connection, when an external device is connected to that connection;

at least one control element on the docking station to actuate the control functions; and

wherein the display provides information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system, the information comprising, for each connected other external device, a non-textual graphic representing the control element corresponding to the control function of that connected other external device.

13. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the docking station is configured to detect the presence of at least one connected other external device.

14. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the graphic is annotated with text indicating that activating the represented control element on the docking station will actuate the control function corresponding to the other external device connection with which the detected other external device is connected.

15. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the graphic is annotated with an arrow pointing to the represented control element.

16. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the graphic includes a pictorial representation of that connected other external device.

17. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein at least two other external devices are connected with the docking station, a first of the at least two connected other external devices comprising a television monitor and a second of the at least two connected other external devices comprising one of a computer and a printer.

18. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein actuating a control function corresponding to a connection with which a television monitor is connected causes the digital camera to display at least one digital image on the television monitor.

19. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein actuating a control function corresponding to a connection with which a computer is connected causes the transfer of at least one digital image from the digital camera to the computer.

20. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein actuating a control function corresponding to a connection with which a printer is connected causes the printing of at least one digital image on the printer.

21. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises, for each connected other external device, text explaining how to initiate, from the docking station, an interaction of the digital camera with that connected other external device.

22. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises instructions for initiating, from a connected external device, an interaction of the digital camera with the connected external device.

23. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises an indication of the progress of the interaction, when an interaction has been initiated.

24. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein the docking station is connected with the digital camera such that the display faces substantially the same direction as a portion of the docking station on which the at least one control element is situated.

25. The digital camera docking system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least one connections for other external devices comprises a USB connector.

26. A digital camera docking system, comprising:

means for connecting a digital camera, the digital camera having a display;

means for connecting at least one other external device;

means for detecting the presence of at least one connected other external device, when at least one other external device is connected;

means for initiating an interaction of the digital camera with the at least one connected other external device; and

means for providing, on the display, information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system, the information comprising, for each connected other external device, a non-textual graphic that depicts the means for initiating an interaction of the digital camera with the at least one connected other external device.

27. The digital camera docking system of claim 26, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system further comprises, for each connected other external device, text explaining how to initiate an interaction of the digital camera with that connected other external device.

28. The digital camera docking system of claim 26, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises instructions for initiating, from a connected external device, an interaction of the digital camera with the connected external device.

29. The digital camera docking system of claim 26, wherein the information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system comprises an indication of the progress of the interaction, when an interaction has been initiated.