Customizing a digital camera

• US 7,019,778 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Miller, Michael E., Tintera, Anthony L., Wasula, John L., Akyuz, Su Y., Prabhu, Girish V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): JERABEK, KELLY L
• Application Number:
  US09/549,356
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.99, 3482311-23111, 348/207.11, 348/207.1, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 396/57, 396/48, 396/56, 396/211, 345740-745, 345/771, 707/102
• 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 arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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 graphical user interface of a digital camera for a particular user, comprising:

(a) providing customization software executed external to the digital camera which provides a simulation of the graphical user interface of the digital camera on a display device separate from the digital camera, the graphical user interface of the digital camera comprising an image display for displaying a plurality of icons, actuation of a given one of the displayed icons initiating a corresponding function in the digital camera;

(b) in response to input from the particular user, modifying the simulation of the graphical user interface to customize the graphical user interface for the particular user, the customization software permitting selection of one of a plurality of different actuatable versions of at least the given icon, the input from the user comprising a selection of a particular one of the different actuatable versions of the given icon for use on the image display of the graphical user interface of the digital camera;

(c) configuring firmware to provide the customized graphical user interface; and

(d) storing the configured firmware in the digital camera to thereby customize the graphical user interface of the digital camera;

wherein the simulation of the graphical user interface on the display device separate from the digital camera comprises a presentation of the selected one of the plurality of different actuatable versions of at least the given icon with one or more additional icons arranged in substantially the same manner as such icons would appear in the customized graphical user interface of the digital camera.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the customization software is provided on a computer program product.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the customization software is provided by a Network Service Provider.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the simulation of the graphical user interface is provided using a host computer.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the host computer is provided in a retail establishment.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital camera includes a removable memory card, and wherein the configured firmware is stored on the removable memory card.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital camera further includes a processor, and wherein the configured firmware is executed by the processor to control the operation of the digital camera.

8. A digital camera including a graphical user interface configured according to the method of claim 1.

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

10. The method of claim 1 further including enabling the user to select at least one desired camera feature, wherein the at least one desired camera feature that can be selected by the user includes monochrome effects, sepia effects, or special effects filters.

11. The method of claim 1 further including enabling the user to select at least one desired camera feature, wherein the at least one desired camera feature that can be selected by the user includes particular tone or color adjustments, or sharpness adjustments.

12. A method for customizing at least one feature and the graphical user interface of a digital camera for at least one user, the method comprising:

(a) providing customization software executed external to the digital camera which can enable a user to select at least one desired camera feature from a plurality of different selectable camera features;

(b) displaying a list of the selectable camera features;

(c) enabling the user to select at least one desired camera feature from the displayed list of camera features;

(d) in response to the selection by the user, providing a simulation of a customized graphical user interface for a customized digital camera, the customized graphical user interface enabling the user to activate the at least one user selected camera feature, the simulation being provided on a display device separate from the digital camera, the customized graphical user interface of the digital camera comprising an image display for displaying information associated with the selected camera feature, the selection by the user further comprising a selection of a particular one of a plurality of different available versions of the displayed information, associated with the selected camera feature, for use on the image display of the customized graphical user interface of the digital camera;

(e) configuring firmware to provide the desired camera feature and the customized graphical user interface; and

(f) storing the configured firmware in the digital camera to thereby customize the digital camera;

wherein the simulation of the graphical user interface on the display device separate from the digital camera comprises a presentation of the selected one of the plurality of different available versions of the displayed information arranged in a simulation window in substantially the same manner as such displayed information would appear in the customized graphical user interface of the digital camera.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the customization software is provided on a computer program product.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the customization software is provided by a Network Service Provider.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the simulation of the graphical user interface is provided using a host computer.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the host computer is provided in a retail establishment.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the digital camera includes a removable memory card, and wherein the configured firmware is stored on the removable memory card.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the digital camera further includes a processor, and wherein the configured firmware is executed by the processor to control the operation of the digital camera.

19. A digital camera including a graphical user interface configured according to the method of claim 12.

20. At least one computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having the customization software stored thereon for performing the method according to claim 12.

21. The method of claim 12 further including enabling the user to select at least one desired camera feature, wherein the at least one desired camera feature that can be selected by the user includes monochrome effects, sepia effects, or special effects filters.

22. The method of claim 12 further including enabling the user to select at least one desired camera feature, wherein the at least one desired camera feature that can be selected by the user includes particular tone or color adjustments, or sharpness adjustments.

23. The method of claim 12 further including the user providing a payment identifier specifying an account to be debited to pay for the at least one selected feature.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the account is a credit card account and the payment identifier is information provided from the credit card.