Patents Assigned to FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6833867
    Abstract: A system and method for adding at least one function to a digital imaging device is disclosed. The method and system include accessing a remote memory containing information relating to the at least one function. The at least one function utilizes hardware which is not already supported by the digital imaging device. The method and system further include loading the information relating to the at least one function on the digital imaging device so that the at least one function and the hardware can be used by the digital imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Flashpoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6810504
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Cooper, Masatoshi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 6785019
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Stephen D. Saylor
  • Patent number: 6765612
    Abstract: A method and system for minimizing image naming conflicts when capturing a plurality of images in a digital camera. The method and system includes incrementing a count in response to an image being captured, the count being a non-repeating number representing the total number of images captured by the digital camera, and associating the count with the captured image to provide a unique image identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Mike Masukawa
  • Patent number: 6738075
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for interactively presenting a slide show in a digital imaging device. The method aspect of the present invention includes first creating a slide show from randomly selected ones of the heterogeneous media objects stored in the digital imaging device, where each one of the heterogeneous media objects includes at least one media type such as, a still image, video, and audio. When the slide show is subsequently presented, each one of the media objects in the slide show is automatically displayed on a display the order selected. According to the present invention, the user is able to change the order the media objects will be played back, and able to control how long each one of the media objects will be played back, to thereby interactively present the slide show from the digital imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Torres, Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6700612
    Abstract: A method for reviewing and navigating among stored images on an image capture unit having a display, wherein each of the stored images is represented by a thumbnail image is disclosed. The method begins by displaying a page of thumbnail images on a display in which when the page is full of thumbnails, the thumbnails are arranged in an N×M array. A memory bar is displayed adjacent to the page on the display, wherein the memory bar indicates a position of the displayed page in relation to the other pages of stored images. The user may navigate among the thumbnail images in the displayed page via the up, down, right and left buttons, where a highlight area indicates a location of a currently selected thumbnail. The user may also navigate from the displayed page to other pages via up, down, right and left buttons, wherein the displayed page is replaced with a second page. In response, the memory bar is updated to indicate a position of the second page in relation to the other pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, John F. Pavley
  • Patent number: 6683649
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a multimedia presentation from heterogeneous media objects stored in a digital imaging device, wherein each one of the media objects includes one or more media types associated therewith, such as images, video, audio and text. The digital imaging device includes a display screen, a navigation control button, and one or more function keys. In a first aspect of the present invention, a representation of each one of the media objects in the digital imaging device is displayed on the display screen. Thereafter, the user navigates to one of the displayed media objects using the navigation control button and marks the selected media object by pressing a corresponding function key. These steps are repeated to provide an ordered set of marked media objects. A slide show is then presented from the ordered set of marked media objects, whereupon initiation of the slide show presentation, each one of the media objects is automatically displayed on the display in the order marked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6680749
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a user interface for an application program executed in a digital imaging device, wherein the digital imaging device and the application program applies a plurality of imaging effects to captured images. The method and system include selecting one of the captured images, and automatically applying the plurality of effects to the selected image to provide a plurality of preview results. The plurality of preview results are then displayed as an aligned set of application specific items in the display along with the selected image to thereby provide a real-time preview of each type of effect applied to the selected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Steve Saylor, Amanda R. Mander, Laslo Vespremi
  • Patent number: 6657667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing a multidimensional array of overlapping images for composite image generation using a camera that includes a viewfinder. This is accomplished by providing a composite image format comprising an N×M array of overlapping images, and allowing the user to sequentially capture the images in the array. When the user attempts to capture one of the images in the array, the overlap ping areas of previously captured images are displayed in the viewfinder to enable the user to align the next image to be captured in the array with the previously captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030206316
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for the creation and use of simple and complex templates. The system includes providing the template where the template contains a plurality of tags, and then applying the template to the image based on the tags. The plurality of tags provide instructions for the application of a plurality of plane files to be applied to the image. The method and system in accordance with the present invention automates the process of applying templates to images which reduces the required amount of user time for the interface. Its use of tags to store the template requires less storage space. The method and system in accordance with the present invention thus saves the user considerable time and effort in applying templates. It also require less processing time over manual template creation methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: ERIC C. ANDERSON, JOHN F. PAVLEY, BRUCE W. SOUTHWICK
  • Patent number: 6608650
    Abstract: A system and method for providing user assistance to a user of a digital image device. The present invention, referred to as an interactive context assistant, includes computer-readable instructions stored in a memory unit of the digital image device which are executed by a central processing unit. The present invention is configured to automatically recognize an attribute of the image data. The present invention also includes a database which specifies the user assistance according to the attribute of the image data. The present invention retrieves from the database the user assistance corresponding to the attribute and provides the user assistance to the user via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Torres, Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 6587119
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a user to define a panning and zooming path across a still image in a digital imaging device during interactive movie creation. The method and apparatus include allowing the user to define the position of a plurality of key frames on the still image, allowing the user to size the key frames to control the zoom during the movie, and allowing the user to set the key frames on the still image to fix each of the key frame's position and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, John D. Bernstein, John F. Pavely, Carl J. Alsing
  • Patent number: 6563535
    Abstract: An image processing system for high performance digital imaging in a digital camera. The reflected light from an image is focused through a lens and optically filtered. A CCD array converts this image into an electrical signal. This electrical signal is processed and then converted into an equivalent digital signal. A digital signal processor is then used to process the raw digital signal. The DSP includes a capture data path, a data flow control, an image processing data path, a compression/decompression engine, a resize circuit, a display processing circuit, and a rotation circuit. Data is routed between the DSP and memory via a bus. By selectively activating and reusing certain parts of the hardware architecture and various data paths, at least four modes of operation can be supported: live view, instant review, and play mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6564282
    Abstract: Method and system aspects for increasing storage capacity in a digital image capture device are described. Compression levels of saved image files are utilized to increase storage capacity by identifying a level of compression of a saved image file in the digital image capture device. The identified level of compression is compared with a predetermined level of compression, and the saved image file is compressed to the predetermined level of compression when the identified level of compression does not match the predetermined level of compression to free storage space in the digital image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Torres
  • Patent number: 6538698
    Abstract: Method and system aspects for locating a desired image from a plurality of images stored in an image capture unit are described. In an exemplary method aspect, the method includes sorting the plurality of images in the image capture unit according to a sort criteria. The method further includes displaying the sorted images as one or more image groups on a display interface of the image capture unit. Additionally included is providing browsing access of the displayed, sorted images by group, wherein locating of a desired image occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6532039
    Abstract: Method and system aspects for digital image stamping are disclosed. A method aspect, and system for providing same, stamps digital images captured with a digital image capture unit. Included are the establishing of parameters for at least one stamp type and the capturing of raw image data. Further included are the processing of the raw image data into at least one image, and the applying of the at least one stamp type to the at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6512548
    Abstract: A method and system for providing instant review of a last image in an image capture device is disclosed. The image capture device includes a viewfinder for displaying a live image and each image of a plurality of previously captured images. The method and system include selecting instant review of the last image captured by the image capture device, determining the status and location of the last image, and providing the last image to the viewfinder for display. Therefore, the image capture device is capable of displaying the last image substantially immediately after the last image has been captured. In another aspect, the image capture device contains an image processing system. In this aspect, the method and system include allowing a user to access a play mode and a review mode while the last image captured undergoes processing by the image processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6507363
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically generating a plurality of folders for multiple devices in a digital camera. The method and system comprises providing a folder of images from a digital camera and embedding an image file format in the folder, wherein the image file format identifies the particular camera. In a preferred embodiment, the image file format comprises a TIFF structure. Through this mechanism, a one level folder system can be utilized to retrieve images. In addition, since the image file format identifies the camera, conflicts due to identical serial numbers are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Patricia Scardino
  • Patent number: 6504575
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying an overlay bar on a digital imaging device is disclosed. First, text and graphic information to be displayed on the overlay bar are stored in an overlay bar buffer, and then displayed on a display screen. Thereafter, an image to be viewed is displayed on the display line-by-line. The lines of the image that are to be displayed within the area of an overlay bar are stored in a backstore buffer. Each line in the backstore buffer is then merged with its corresponding lines in the overlay bar buffer and displayed. The merging operation is performed by modifying the luminance value of each pixel of the image data that falls within the area of the overlay bar, and overwriting each pixel of image data that falls under a pixel of text in the overlay bar. This makes the overlay bar appear to the user to be translucent and makes the image appear as though it is sliding beneath the overlay bar as it is being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ramirez, Eric C. Anderson
  • Patent number: D470857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: FlashPoint Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Steve Saylor, Amanda R. Mander