Digital picture frame and method for editing

• US 20060170669A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Santisi, Steven M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S., Garcia, Victor M.
• Application Number:
  US10/639,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 : of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 : The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

The invention provides a digital picture frame that allows a user to edit a displayed picture using simple and intuitive controls. Modifications to an image may be stored by the digital picture frame so that the digital picture frame may later display the edited or modified version of the picture rather than the original version. A user may edit a picture using mechanical controls (e.g., knobs, switches, slider-bars, wheels), sensors (e.g., a position sensor, a tilt sensor, a microphone, a light sensor), a voice recognition module, and/or a touch screen. A digital picture frame may identify a user and based on the user'"'"'s identity (e.g., the user'"'"'s preferences or permissions), may display pictures to the user. Further, different users may modify a picture in different ways, so that two different users may view two different versions of the same picture.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure having a window;

a display screen contained within the enclosure and visible through the window;

a processor coupled to the display screen and contained within the enclosure;

a mechanical edit control coupled to the processor and having a fixed portion and a moveable portion, wherein the fixed portion is mounted to the enclosure; and

a memory coupled to the processor and contained within the enclosure,

wherein the memory is operable to store information representative of an image,

wherein the display screen is operable to display a digital image representative of the information,

wherein the mechanical edit control is operable to send a signal to the processor,

wherein the processor is operable to alter the information in the memory based upon the signal, and

wherein the processor is operable to store the altered information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to store a representation of the alteration of the information in association with the information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to store a representation of the signal in association with the information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical edit control includes a slider.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the signal indicates an area of the digital image to crop.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the signal indicates an area of the digital image to center.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical edit control includes a knob.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the signal indicates an area of the digital image to crop.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the signal indicates an area of the digital image to center.

10. A digital picture frame comprising:

a frame;

an enclosure attached to a rear side of the frame;

a processor mounted within the enclosure;

a memory coupled to the processor, mounted within the enclosure, and operable to store data representative of a digital image;

a display screen coupled to the processor, framed by the frame, viewable through a front side of the frame, mounted within the enclosure, and operable to display a representation of the digital image based on the data; and

a sensor coupled to the processor and mounted within the enclosure,

wherein the sensor is operable to send a signal to the processor,

wherein the processor is operable to modify the data in response to the signal, and

where the display screen is operable to modify the representation of the digital image based on the modified data.

11. The digital picture frame of claim 10, wherein information representative of the modification made to the data is stored in the memory in association with the data

12. The digital picture frame of claim 11, wherein an identity of a user is stored in association with the information representative of the modification made to the data.

13. The digital picture frame of claim 10 wherein the sensor includes an orientation sensor.

14. The digital picture frame of claim 10 wherein the sensor includes a voice recognition module.

15. The digital picture frame of claim 10 wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor.

16. The digital picture frame of claim 10 wherein the sensor includes a camera and an image recognition system.

17. The digital picture frame of claim 10 wherein the signal from the sensor includes information sufficient to enable the processor to identify a viewer proximate to the digital picture frame, and the processor is operable, in response to the signal, to display a video stream of images associated with the viewer.

18. A digital picture frame, comprising:

a display screen suitable for displaying a digital picture;

a processor coupled to the display screen;

at least one control coupled to the processor,

wherein the at least one control enables a user to edit the digital picture displayed on the digital picture frame,

wherein the processor is operable to store the edited digital picture,

wherein the at least one control is a mechanical control, and

wherein the at least one control performs a dedicated function.

19. A digital picture frame, comprising:

a display screen suitable for displaying a digital picture; and

a processor coupled to the display screen,

wherein the processor performs at least one function based on a voice command from a user.

20. A digital picture frame, comprising:

a display screen suitable for displaying a digital picture; and

a processor coupled to the display screen,

wherein the processor is operative to determine at least one modification to the digital picture, and

wherein the processor is operative, based on the at least one modification, to cause the display screen to display the digital picture.

21. A digital picture frame, comprising:

a display screen suitable for displaying a digital picture; and

a processor coupled to the display screen,

wherein the processor is operative to identify at least one user of the digital picture frame,

wherein the processor is operative to display the digital picture on the display screen based on the at least one user, and

wherein the processor is operative to enable the at least one user to edit the digital picture based on the identity of the at least one user.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a digital picture frame including a memory that stores a secret key;

a computer server; and

a communication network that enables communication between the digital picture frame and the computer server,

wherein at least a portion of communication between the digital picture frame and the computer server is encrypted using the secret key.

23. A method comprising:

storing information representative of an image in a memory of a digital picture frame;

displaying a digital image representative of the information on a display screen;

receiving a signal representative of an edit of the digital image from a mechanical edit control attached to the digital picture frame;

altering the information in the memory based upon the signal;

storing the altered information; and

displaying a digital image representative of the altered information on the display screen.

24. The method of claim 23 further including storing a representation of the alteration of the information in association with the information.

25. The method of claim 23 further including storing a representation of the signal in association with the information.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein receiving a signal representative of an edit includes receiving a signal from a slider.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal that indicates an area of the digital image to crop.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal that indicates an area of the digital image to center.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein receiving a signal representative of an edit includes receiving a signal from a knob.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal that indicates an area of the digital image to crop.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein receiving a signal includes receiving a signal that indicates an area of the digital image to center.

32. A method of operating a digital picture frame comprising:

receiving a signal from a sensor mounted within an enclosure of a digital picture frame;

modifying data representative of a digital image stored within a memory mounted within the enclosure wherein the data is modified based upon the signal; and

displaying the modified data on a display screen mounted within the enclosure and visible via an opening in the enclosure.

33. The method of claim 32, further including storing information representative of the modification made to the data in the memory in association with the data.

34. The method of claim 33, further including storing an identity of a user in association with the information representative of the modification made to the data.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving a signal representative of orientation data from an orientation sensor.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving a signal representative of viewer identity data from a voice recognition module.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving a signal representative of edit control data from a voice recognition module.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving a signal representative of control data from a motion sensor.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving a signal representative of viewer identity data from a camera and an image recognition system.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein receiving a signal from a sensor includes receiving information sufficient to enable identification of a viewer proximate to the digital picture frame, and wherein the method further includes displaying a video stream of images associated with the viewer in response to the signal.