Customizing a digital camera based on demographic factors

• US 7,304,677 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Wheeler, Richard B., Prabhu, Girish V., Keelan, Brian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): JERABEK, KELLY L
• Application Number:
  US10/215,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/223.1, 345/745, 345/771, 396/177, 396/158
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/193 Preprocessing; Feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

A method for customizing a camera for at least one particular demographic group is disclosed. The camera includes a programmable memory that stores at least one parameter value to control at least one operation of the camera. The method includes the steps of identifying at least one camera parameter having a preferred value for at least one demographic group that differs from the standard value for said parameter, selecting a demographic classification for the camera, and programming the programmable memory of the camera to set the parameter value to the preferred value for the selected demographic classification.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a camera for at least one particular demographic group by storing at least one parameter value in a programmable memory of the camera to control at least one operation of the camera, the method comprising the steps of:

a) identifying at least one camera parameter having a preferred value for at least one demographic group that differs from the standard value for said parameter;

b) selecting a demographic classification for the camera based on the expected heritage of the at least one demographic group; and

c) programming the programmable memory of the camera to set the parameter value to the preferred value for the selected demographic classification and using the parameter to control redeye reduction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the camera includes a flash unit capable of providing a main flash and a preflash, and the parameter value controls the light level of the preflash.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the camera is a digital camera.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the parameter value modifies the skin tone reproduction of digital images captured by the digital camera.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the parameter value provides a plurality of matrix coefficients which control the color correction provided by the digital camera.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the demographic classification is selected by a camera user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the demographic classification is selected using a software program which displays a plurality of demographic classifications to the user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the demographic classification is selected as the camera is manufactured.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the demographic classification is selected as the camera is sold to a user.

10. A digital camera configured according to the method of claim 1.

11. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the camera includes first and second camera graphical user interfaces responsive to firmware stored in the programmable memory, wherein the first camera graphical user interface is configured for a first demographic classification, and the second camera graphical user interface, which is different from the first camera graphical user interface, is configured for a second demographic classification.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second camera graphical user interfaces use different icon styles.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second camera graphical user interfaces use different color sets.

15. A method for customizing cameras for a first demographic group and at least one other demographic group as the cameras are manufactured, the method comprising the steps of:

a) identifying a particular camera feature which is more important for the first demographic group than for the second demographic group;

b) classifying the cameras based on the expected heritage of one of the demographic groups; and

c) customizing the cameras classified using the first demographic group such that only these cameras are manufactured in a way that includes the particular camera feature wherein the particular camera feature reduces redeye.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the particular camera feature provides an increased flash to lens distance.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the particular camera feature provides a pivoting flash.

18. A method for customizing cameras for a first demographic group, wherein the first demographic group has a relatively higher frequency of redeye than a second demographic group, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining if the camera is intended for the first demographic group wherein the demographic classification of the camera is based on the expected heritage of the first demographic group; and

b) if and only if it is determined that the camera is intended for the first demographic group, customizing the camera so that the camera provides a reduced redeye effect.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of customizing the camera provides an increased flash to lens distance.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of customizing the camera provides a pivoting flash.