Customizing a digital camera using firmware components provided by a service provider over a network

• US 7,586,532 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Miller, Michael E., Akyuz, Su Y., Prabhu, Girish V., Parulski, Kenneth A., Tintera, Anthony L., Wasula, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jerabek; Kelly L
• Application Number:
  US11/564,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 348/223.1, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/211.1
• US Class Current: 348/333.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• 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 1/00204 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00509 Personalising for a particular user or group of users, e.g. a workgroup or company
• 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 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• 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

Abstract

A method for customizing a digital camera for at least one particular user is disclosed. The digital camera includes a reprogrammable memory for storing firmware which controls the operation of the digital camera and a camera graphical user interface responsive to the firmware stored in the reprogrammable memory. The method includes providing customization software executed external to the digital camera which can access a plurality of firmware components having different camera features. A user selects desired camera features to cause the customization software to access the corresponding firmware component(s). The selected corresponding firmware component(s) are provided to the digital camera and the reprogrammable memory is reprogrammed to store the corresponding firmware component(s) to thereby customize the digital camera.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a digital camera, comprising:

a) providing a digital camera, comprising;

i) an image sensor for capturing images of a scene;

ii) an image memory for storing the captured images;

iii) a display for displaying the stored images;

iv) a firmware memory for storing firmware components; and

v) a processor for controlling the digital camera using the firmware components stored in the firmware memory;

b) storing a plurality of firmware components in a database at a service provider, wherein each of said firmware components provides a particular camera feature that affects the operation or capability of the digital camera;

c) the service provider communicating with a user of the digital camera over a network to provide information concerning the features provided by at least some of the plurality of firmware components stored in said database, the service provider uses customization software executed on a host computer connected to the digital camera, wherein the customization software (i) determines the camera model number of the connected digital camera, and (ii) uses the camera model number to determine at least one capability of the digital camera;

d) responsive to the user selecting one of said features, downloading the firmware component corresponding to the user selected feature from the database over the network, and storing the downloaded firmware component in the firmware memory of the digital camera in order to customize said digital camera; and

e) wherein the features of firmware components in c) that are presented to the user are customized based on responses provided by the digital camera user and only presented to the digital camera user if the at least one capability of the digital camera as determined in c) (ii) can support the firmware components.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said information concerning the features provided by at least some of the plurality of firmware components includes the cost of purchasing the firmware component.

3. The method according to claim 2 further including receiving a payment identifier from the user to pay the cost of said downloaded firmware component.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component provides a customized graphical user interface displayed on said display.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said customized graphical user interface includes customized background colors or patterns.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein said customized graphical user interface includes customized icon schemes.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component provides a special effects feature.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said digital camera further comprises a speaker for making audible sounds, and wherein said downloaded firmware component provides a unique audible sound.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component provides a compression algorithm.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component provides a red-eye removal.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component provides at least one template.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component enables said digital camera to produce panoramic images.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component enables said digital camera to arrange said stored images into a web page.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said web page has a customized background color.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said web page includes image dates or titles.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein said downloaded firmware component enables said digital camera to email said stored images.

17. At least one computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having customization software stored thereon for performing the method according to claim 1.