Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for generating variable-length timing signals in an electronic imaging device. A digital camera device includes an electronic image sensor which requires a complex set of timing signals to effectively capture image data. The digital camera therefore also includes timing generation circuitry which generates a set of precise timing signals for a variable-length frame time necessary to control and synchronize the electronic image sensor within the digital camera. The present invention includes a transfer substrate charge (Xsub) source circuit and a frame time source circuit, each containing a downcounter. The point in time when the downcounters reach zero is available as a precise and programmable timing reference. Both the Xsub time and frame time source circuits are loaded from registers under software control.

Abstract: A method for automatically storing and presenting digital images is disclosed. The method includes capturing digital images with a digital camera and storing the images in an image file, where the file includes at least one speech field and at least one text-based tag. A categorization process is then initiated whereby a user speaks at least one category voice annotation into the digital camera to categorize an image, and the category voice annotation is stored in the speech field of the corresponding image file. The category voice annotation is then translated into at a text annotation using voice recognition, and the image and the text annotation are automatically stored in a database. An album may then be dynamically created by retrieving selected images and corresponding text annotations from the database in response to a request from the user, and displaying each image on the album along with the text annotations.

Abstract: A system and method for adding file formats to a digital imaging device is disclosed. The digital imaging device includes a built-in file format. The method and system include allowing a user to loading a first file extension module, providing a management layer, and providing a plurality of data processing utilities. The first file extension module includes a second file format. The management layer communicates with the first file extension module to write and read an image file having the second file format. The management layer also communicates with a portion of the digital imaging device using an internal format. The plurality of data processing utilities are for converting data to between the second file format and the internal format.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling user interaction in a digital imaging device having a display using dynamic overlay bars. The digital imaging device includes at least two operating modes, where each of the operating modes has at least one mode-specific operation that can be performed on images. In response to operating in both of the operating modes, the digital imaging device displays a first overlay bar on the display that is dynamically updated with status information and interactive instructions that guide the user through the mode-specific operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for de-interlacing a buffer of image data, wherein scan lines from an image sensor have been transferred to the buffer and stored in a group of even scan lines and a group of odd scan lines. The method for de-interlacing the buffer includes providing a first table to indicate current storage locations of each scan line in the buffer and providing a second table to indicate which scan line is currently stored in each storage location. The first table and a temporary line buffer are then used iteratively swap pairs of scan lines that are stored out of numerical order in the buffer, such that after a swap, one of the scan line in the pair is stored in numerical order in the buffer. After each swap, the first table is updated using the second table, and then second table is updated, such that the first and second tables reflect a change of storage locations for the scan lines, whereby the buffer is de-interlaced in place without using a duplicate buffer.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a user of a portable electronic device having a removable memory using asymmetric cryptography, the asymmetric cryptography requiring the use of a user'private key and public key. The method and system include storing the user'private key and public key on the portable electronic device. Thereafter, information including the user'personal identification number (PIN) is encrypted using the user'private key and public key, respectively, to create encrypted authentication information. The encrypted authentication information is then stored on a standard removable memory, such as a flash card. When the removable memory is subsequently inserted into the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device automatically decrypts the authentication information and prompts the user for a PIN code.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for providing more automatic image file handling with a digital image capture device. The present invention includes the designation of at least one file format attribute of a plurality of file format attributes for captured digital images in the digital image capture device. Further included is the establishment of one or more rule sets for digital image file handling based on the plurality of file format attributes, and the manipulation of digital image files according to a selected rule set of the one or more rule sets. The automatic file handling extends to a photosystem environment that includes at least one computer system coupled to the digital image capture device that also provides and utilizes file attributes for automatic image file handling.

Abstract: A system and a method for processing image data in a digital image device such as a digital camera. The present invention includes a bus, a central processing unit coupled to the bus, an image processing subsystem coupled to the central processing unit for processing the image data using a particular processing mode, a memory unit coupled to the bus, and a data storage element for storing the image data after image processing. The memory unit has stored therein an operating system for managing the image processing subsystem, and the memory unit also has a data structure for managing the image data for the image processing subsystem during image processing. The data structure provides an interface between the operating system and the image processing subsystem, such that the operating system is independent of the processing mode used by the image processing subsystem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing heterogeneous media objects in a digital imaging device having a display screen, where each one of the media objects has one or more media types associated therewith, such as a still image, a sequential image, video, audio, and text. The method aspect of the present invention begins by displaying a representation of each one of the media objects on the display screen to allow a user to randomly select a particular media object to edit. In response to a user pressing a key to edit a selected media object, one or more specialized edit screens is invoked for editing the media types associated with the selected media object. If the media object includes a still or a sequential image, then an image editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes a video clip, then a video editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes an audio clip, then an audio editing screen is invoked. And If the media object includes a text clip, then a text editing screen is invoked.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a user interface for use with Japanese characters includes a font-encoder compiler on a host computer for encoding selected text strings and creating custom fonts, and further includes an electronic device which contains a standard font and a font manager. The font manager selectively accesses the standard font and the custom fonts to display the encoded text strings on the user interface of the electronic device. Specific characters may be selected by entering a hierarchical text edit dialog, choosing a character category, selecting an articulation group and then choosing a specific character from the selected articulation group.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing an efficient alphanumeric text entry interface for a portable digital electronic device. A first entry area and a second entry area are generated for display on the incorporated display screen of a digital electronic device. The first and second areas are configured to display alphanumeric characters. A cursor is generated for selecting from among the various alphanumeric characters displayed in the first area and the second area. The cursor is operable to highlight a currently selected alphanumeric character such that the currently selected alphanumeric character is visible and easily distinguishable to the user. The movement of the cursor is controlled with the four way controller built into the digital electronic device. The four way controller is adapted for easy actuation by the user, wherein its movements are coordinated with the movement of the cursor on the display.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for reducing memory storage requirements during decompression of tiled image data are described. Included in a method aspect, and system for achieving same, are identification of a number of tiles in each row of an image, and decompression of a bitstream of compressed image data from the number of tiles in parallel to fill a band buffer with a minimum number of lines needed for processing a scan line of the image.

Abstract: A method and system for interactively creating a movie from a still image in a digital imaging device that includes a display screen. The method and system include determining a path of panning across the still image, generating image frames along the path of panning, and then displaying the image frames for a predetermined time interval on the display screen to play the movie.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a printer capable of generating a hard copy of at least one image is disclosed. The at least one image is stored in an image file on a removable memory. In one aspect, the method and system include a graphical user interface for allowing a user to view at least a portion of the image and a printing device coupled with the graphical user interface for printing the hard copy of the at least one image. In a second aspect, the method and system include means for storing the at least one image in a second format and a printing device coupled with the storing means for printing the hard copy of the at least one image. In a third aspect, the method and system include means for modifying the at least one image, means coupled with the modifying means for storing the at modified at least one image in the first format, and a printing device coupled with the storing means for printing the hard copy of the at least one image.

Abstract: A method for accessing a digital image capture unit via a communication network comprising a server computer system and a client computer system communicatively coupled with communication equipment. In one embodiment, the address of the digital image capture unit is registered in an executable program on the server computer system. The executable program is accessed by the client computer system. The executable program connects the digital image capture unit and the server computer system. The executable program communicates commands between the client computer system and the digital image capture unit, such that data captured by the digital image capture unit is transferred to the client computer system via the server computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing heterogeneous media objects in a digital imaging device having a display screen, where each one of the media objects has one or more media types associated therewith, such as a still image, a sequential image, video, audio, and text. The method aspect of the present invention begins by displaying a representation of each one of the media objects on the display screen to allow a user to randomly select a particular media object to edit. In response to a user pressing a key to edit a selected media object, one or more specialized edit screens is invoked for editing the media types associated with the selected media object. If the media object includes a still or a sequential image, then an image editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes a video clip, then a video editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes an audio clip, then an audio editing screen is invoked. And if the media object includes a text clip, then a text editing screen is invoked.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing display formats for a peripheral display coupled to an digital imaging device. The system and method comprising the steps of detecting the coupling between the digital imaging device and the peripheral display; and automatically switching a first display format of the digital imaging device to a second display format for the peripheral display.

Abstract: A system and method for generating timing signals in an electronic imaging device includes a horizontal timing generator with a first programmable memory for storing a set of timing information and a vertical timing generator with a second programmable memory for providing a set of control information which is used to selectively generate the timing signals from the set of timing information in the first programmable memory.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a host to support a plurality of capture devices have been disclosed. The host includes a application program. In one aspect, the method and system include providing a first digital imaging device module, providing an interface layer, and providing a second digital imaging device module. The first digital imaging device module includes information relating to a first digital imaging device and is for controlling and providing connectivity to the first digital imaging device. The interface layer is for communicating between the application and the first digital imaging device module. The second digital imaging device module includes information relating to a second digital imaging device. The second digital imaging device module is for controlling and providing connectivity to the second digital imaging device and is accessible by the application through the interface layer.

Abstract: A method and system for accelerating a user interface on a display of an image capture unit is disclosed. The image capture unit includes a plurality of image files for providing a plurality of images, the image capture unit further includes controls for allowing an image to be viewed on the display and for allowing navigation between the plurality of images. In a first aspect a method and system in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a low resolution image, medium resolution image and high resolution image within each image file and allowing the medium resolution image to be viewed on the display. In a second aspect a method for accelerating a user interface on a display of an image capture unit in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of image files for providing a plurality of images, each image file includes a high resolution image therein.