Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for data storage and retrieval, and more particularly, for indicating that ancillary data is stored in a header of a JPEG file and accessible to a user. The system comprises a JPEG file having an EXIF header and associated image data, and at least one other file of digital data, and a computer. The computer is programmed to scan the JPEG image file for a special indicator in the application marker section of the EXIF header. If the marker is present, the value of marker indicates what type of ancillary digital data is present in the header. For instance, if the marker contains the string EKC-JPEG, then the ancillary data is known to be another JPEG file. Other types of data can be indicated as appropriate. The presence of the ancillary data is then used for the appropriate type of presentation to the user. A reveal icon is then used in presenting the data to indicate whether the ancillary data is another JPEG file, video, audio, sound, document, etc.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus with adjustable imaging plane, the apparatus having mechanical, electronic or optical devices to adjust the position and the orientation of the imaging plane, which successively captures a plurality of images while adjusting the imaging plane, and a method to integrate the captured images to a single high-resolution image by exploration of the mutual information not available in a single image, such as the sub-pixel observations due to the spatial misalignment, thus achieving an image resolution higher than the sensor resolution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a digital media files and technique for pseudo real time indexing of digital media files. The technique includes capturing at least one digital media file using a network enabled image capture device, connecting the network enabled image capture device to an indexing server over a network and transferring the at least one captured digital media file to the indexing server. The technique further includes indexing the at least one captured digital media file for producing indexed data associated with the at least one captured digital media file, transferring the indexed data associated with the at least one captured digital media file to the network enabled image capture device, and updating the at least one digital media file on the network enabled image capture device with the indexed data.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu. As a further option, the consumer can customize his/her product/service plan in accordance with his/her preference. The plan can provide for products and/or services for images captured and/or film exposed by the camera for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined fee.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automatically generating a dynamic set of metadata from digitized hardcopy media. The technique includes scanning the image side and non-image side of a plurality of hardcopy media. A dynamic digital metadata record of each of the plurality of hardcopy media is created and used for manipulating each of the plurality of hardcopy media.

Abstract: A method and digital camera for capturing images to be provided to a service provider. The camera includes a capture device for capturing digital images; a memory for storing the captured digital images; an interface to a communications device for transmitting the stored images to a service provider; wherein the digital interface automatically transfers images to the network service provider during a specified time period. Rechargeable batteries may be provided for powering the digital camera; wherein the communications device recharges the batteries using the interface. The camera may further include a display for displaying digital files stored in the digital memory and displaying the at least one order status confirmation file on the display.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the image and ancillary image sides of scanned hardcopy media. Hardcopy prints typically provide ancillary data to supply additional information for an area of interest and can enhance the analysis of key data in the print. Postcards, for example, provide a unique form of ancillary data. On the back of a postcard image, ancillary data information such as stamps, user notes, dates, addresses, and other types of annotation can be found. This data typically provides additional information to a reader of the postcard. Dual sided scanners provide both the image and ancillary (i.e., non-image) scans simultaneously. In addition, ancillary data can be in a variety of formats, such as audio, video and the like. When a hardcopy print is scanned the scanner provides two image files that represent the image and ancillary image sides of the print.

Abstract: An error in a camera having angular velocity sensors is eliminated. A camera is placed on a rotating table and rotated, angular velocities are detected by angular velocity sensors, and a CZP chart is photographed. The motion of the camera is computed as a locus of motion of a point light source on an imaging plane from the outputs from the angular velocity sensors. The inclination of the locus motion is compared with the inclination of a zero-crossing line which has been obtained by subjecting the photographed image to Fourier transformation, to thus compute angles of relative inclination of the angular velocity sensors with respect to the image sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a change operator for detecting change factor information which causes the deterioration in the image; an iterative processing operator which iterates a processing cycle comprising; a first processing step to apply a first calculation to a first image utilizing the change factor information to generate a second image, calculating difference data between the deteriorated image and the second image; a second processing step to apply a second calculation to the second image utilizing the difference data to generate a third image; and a replacing step to replace the first image with the third image; wherein the processing cycle further includes (a) detecting whether a coincidence exists between the sign of a first difference data and the sign of a second difference data or not, and (b) increasing an absolute value of the difference data utilized in the second processing step when the coincidence is detected in step (a).

Abstract: A system, computer software product and a method for ordering goods and/or services with respect to digital images over a communication network. A server provided for sending e-mail to a receiving site of a customer over the communication network. The e-mail has a static section for containing static text and/or graphics and a dynamic area/section for containing dynamic data, the dynamic data is automatically forwarded to the receiving site only upon opening of the e-mail at the receiving site. The dynamic data comprising at least digital data files containing digital images. The static section contains an order section for ordering of goods and/or services with respect to the dynamic data. The order is automatically forwarded to and fulfilled by a remote service provider.

Abstract: An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor. The sensor output from the first imaging stage is used as a primary output image for forming the captured image signal and the sensor output from the second imaging stage is used as a secondary output image for modifying the primary output image, thereby generating an enhanced, captured image signal.

Abstract: An image deteriorated by camera shake, or the like, is restored in a short period of time. A ?J computation section computes an evaluation value J from a deteriorated image G captured by means of photographing, a restored image F, and a PSF computed from an angular velocity detected by an angular velocity sensor, and further computes ?J. When the square of norm of ?J exceeds a threshold value, there is iterated processing for computing a new, restored image F by means of subtracting ?·?J from the restored image F. A convergence parameter computation section sets the convergence parameter ? as a value which first shows an increase and subsequently a decrease depending on the number of iterations, thereby increasing the speed of convergence and inhibiting divergence.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising: a display; means for displaying on the display a menu of user selectable options; first user activated means for sequentially navigating through the displayed menu of user selectable options; and second user activated means for directly choosing a predetermined one of the options without having to navigate sequentially through the options.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor; a strobe unit; a preliminary. illumination controller which instructs the strobe unit to preliminarily illuminate for a predetermined period before main illumination; a reading controller which divides the image sensor into a plurality of regions, controls an exposure period for each region, corresponding to the preliminary illumination, and reads an image signal from each of the regions; and an imaging exposure setting unit which sets an appropriate amount of strobe light to be fired during imaging according to the image signals read from the regions; wherein the reading controller controls the exposure period for each region so that an overlapping period with the preliminary illumination period of the strobe unit is different from each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image capture device and a technique for capturing an image. The technique includes selecting at least one subject displayed on an image capture device as an image trigger condition and entering a threshold level corresponding to the at least one image trigger condition. The technique further provides monitoring a signal from at least one sensor detecting the at least one image trigger condition and obtaining at least one digital image upon detecting the sensed image trigger condition meeting the threshold level.

Abstract: In an imaging device, a photographic scene is automatically determined with high accuracy. Distance information is acquired, through a TTL-AF, from an image signal produced by a CCD. Further, a face recognition circuit detects the face of a person in a subject. An AE-AF-AWB value computing section evaluates the reliability of the distance information acquired through the TTL-AF operation, on the basis of a focal length of a lens, an aperture, and a distance to the subject computed from a distance between eyes included in the detected face. A mode-recognition-and-determination-and mode-selection section automatically determines the photographic scene from the distance information acquired through the TTL-AF operation, the reliability of the distance, and an estimated white balance value.

Abstract: A network configuration file is generated at a host computer and downloaded to a digital camera. This file contains instruction information for communicating with a selected destination via a communications interface. The digital camera includes a “send” button or LCD icon which allows the user to easily transmit one or more images via a wired or wireless communications interface to a desired destination, which among other possibilities may be an Internet Service Provider or a digital photofinishing center. When the user selects this option, the communications port settings, user account specifics, and destination connection commands are read from the network configuration file on the removable memory card. Examples of these settings include serial port baud rate, parity, and stop bits, as well as account name and password.

Abstract: When focus adjustment operation is performed, a first measured distance acquired by utilization of TTL-AF and a second measured value acquired by utilization of a distance between the eyes have been computed in advance. The degree of reliability of the first measured distance is compared the degree of reliability of the second measured distance in accordance with a result of a determination as to whether or not a face is detected, a result of a determination as to whether or not an ambient brightness value Br is equal to or less than a reference value, a result of a determination as to whether or not a focal length “f” is equal to or less than a reference value, and a result of a determination as to whether or not a second measured distance De is less than a first measured distance Dt.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes first and second imaging stages for capturing separate images of a scene, one of the stages being designated as a default imaging stage. A processor enables capture and display of the separate images, and further responds to an operator selection of one of the imaging stages as a primary capture unit which is to be primarily used for capturing an image of the scene that is stored by the digital camera. If the operator selection does not occur within a predetermined time period, or if the camera is actuated before the time has run out, the processor automatically selects the default imaging stage as the primary capture unit.

Abstract: There is provided a technique of preventing occurrence of a shift in white balance even when the ratio of a dark area is greater than the ratio of a bright area as in the case of a night view. A white balance gain calculator calculates white balance gains for an image from color of pixels whose luminance levels are at equal to or greater than a reference luminance level among all pixels of an image. When the ratio of dark pixels whose luminance satisfies a predetermined condition, among all pixels of the image, is equal to or greater than a reference ratio, a correction coefficient calculating section determines a correction coefficient from at least one of factors; namely, image-capturing sensitivity corresponding to an image, the ratio of dark pixels, and firing/non-firing of flash light; and instructs the white balance gain calculator to make a correction to the white balance gain in accordance with the correction coefficient.