Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for accelerating a user interface of an image capture unit. The method and system comprises providing a plurality of thumbnail images on the display, each of the plurality of thumbnail images being associated with a captured image. The method and system also include selecting one of the plurality of thumbnail images to be displayed as a resized thumbnail image on the display, the resized thumbnail image being a larger version of the selected one of the plurality of thumbnail images. Through the present invention the user interface allows a user to quickly review images in an image capture unit such as a digital camera or the like.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently managing the contents of a volatile memory and a non volatile memory used by an embedded computer system in order to reduce the amount of volatile memory required by the embedded computer system for operation. The embedded computer system includes a processor coupled to the volatile and non-volatile memories via a bus. The volatile and non volatile memories store computer readable software for execution by the embedded computer system. When executed, the software causes the embedded computer system to implement the method for efficiently managing the contents of the volatile and non-volatile memories. At power-up, boot code stored in the non-volatile memory is executed and begins instantiating the initial operating environment of the embedded computer system.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for increasing print performance for rotated digital images are described. A method aspect, and system for providing same, includes analyzing a selected image print layout to determine at least a number and size of rotated images in the selected image print layout. Further included is allocating available rotate buffer space to the rotated images based on at least the number and size of the rotated images, and executing band printing of the selected print layout.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image to a display device is provided. This method includes sequentially the steps of receiving the image in a first data format, performing a white balance correction in combination with a gamma correction for the image in the first data format, performing a color correction in combination with a color space conversion to a second data format for the image, and displaying the image in the second data format to the display device. This method reduces the number of multiplications required in the conversion of an image from the first data format to the second data format. This results in significant savings in CPU time, and more images may be displayed within a certain amount of time.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic capture of salient still images in an electronic imaging device includes detecting a high contrast image, notifying a user of the presence of the high contrast image, and capturing a plurality of salient still images to increase the dynamic range of the electronic imaging device. In addition, the system having an exposure control coupled to the electronic imaging device for selecting salient still capture mode, and determined a mode of operation for the capture of the salient still images, and storing the salient still images in a computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically updating software-driven features in an electronic imaging device, including digital cameras, is disclosed. The user of the electronic imaging device may desire various features which are not supported by the baseline application program that is built into the electronic imaging device. In the present invention, the user may select removable memory devices to supplement the baseline application program. The user inserts the removable memory device into an external connector of the electronic imaging device. The computer of the electronic imaging device then automatically scans the removable memory device for executable software items, and displays these items in various menus as appropriate. The user may then select these items for execution without having to reboot the computer of the electronic imaging device. When the user is finished using the features on the removable memory device, he may remove it with no subsequent operator intervention required.

Abstract: A system and method for correlating processing data and image data within a digital camera device comprises a capture device for gathering image data, a data cell manager for building a data cell containing processing data and for linking the data cell to the image data, and a processor device for processing and compressing the image data by using the processing data stored within the data cell.

Abstract: A method for allowing user-specification of a time-based group of related images includes providing a first command to initiate an image capture session and providing a plurality of parameters in conjunction with the first command, the plurality of parameters comprising a length of the image capture session, and a period of delay between image captures in the image capture session. The method further includes providing a second command to end the image capture session, wherein the image capture session automatically relates images captured during the image capture session to form the user-specified time-based group. Alternatively, the image capture session is ended when the length has been exhausted. A system includes a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of capturing and processing digital image data, and a central processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for obtaining a set of capability parameters for an electronic imaging device. The invention includes a series of capability parameter storage locations for containing capability parameter value sets, a GetCameraCapabilities command for retrieving these capability parameter value sets, and a parameter manager device for executing the GetCameraCapabilities command to retrieve the capability parameter value sets.

Abstract: A system and method for anti-aliasing of text overlays on electronic images comprises a text-font manager for loading background color and selected font data which includes font type, font size, and font color, and for obtaining a text string for overlay on the electronic image. The invention also includes a graphics manager for retrieving bit-mapped data for the selected font data and text string and for retrieving current pixel information from the bit-mapped data. The invention further comprises an anti-aliasing module for adjusting the inactive pixels of each character of the character text string based upon the surrounding pixels in the bit-mapped data. The anti-aliasing module overlays the electronic image with the active and adjusted text character pixels. The image merged with text is saved in memory and/or displayed on the electronic imaging display device.

Abstract: A system for implementing button interface compatibility for button aware applications executing on a touch-screen equipped digital imaging device. A touch-screen is coupled to the digital imaging device and is adapted to accept input from a user. An embedded computer system is built into the digital imaging device for implementing functionality for the digital imaging device. The embedded computer system includes a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the memory stores computer readable code which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer system to implement a hardware abstraction layer, a touch-screen manager, a button interface manager, and an event manager. The hardware abstraction layer is coupled to the touch-screen and is adapted to abstract the functionality of the touch-screen. The button interface manager is coupled to the touch-screen and is adapted to interface with a button aware application.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling parameters in an electronic imaging device comprises a series of parameter storage locations coupled to the imaging device for containing parameter value sets, a set of parameter commands for controlling the parameter value sets, and a parameter manager device for executing the set of parameter commands to control the parameters in the electronic imaging device.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically adding sound to images in a digital camera, which includes a view finder for displaying a plurality of image cells corresponding to previously captured images. The method and system includes the ability to manually post-annotate a previously captured image. This is accomplished by placing the digital camera in a review mode, selecting the image cell in the view finder corresponding to the previously captured image, recording a sound clip; and then attaching the sound clip to the previously captured image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing operating modes in an image capture device. The image capture device includes a shutter button, a first operating mode for capturing images, and a second operating mode for displaying the captured images on a display device. The method and apparatus include providing the image capture device with two sets of navigational control buttons, wherein a direction of image scrolling on the display in the second operating mode is mapped to the first set of navigational control buttons. The method and apparatus further include switching between the operating modes of the image capture device using the second set of navigational control buttons, whereby a user may change operating modes with the same mechanism that is used for image scrolling.In a further embodiment of the present invention, the .pi.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a user interface across multiple operating modes of a digital camera including a display. When the digital camera is placed into each one of the multiple operating modes, mode-specific items corresponding to that mode are displayed on the display. The digital camera includes a first button and a second button for interacting with the multiple operating modes, where the first button has a first orientation, and the second button has a second orientation. The method and apparatus includes mapping an aligned set of mode-specific items in the display to the orientation of the first button. After the mode-specific items are displayed, the user scrolls from one mode-specific item to the next in the aligned set by pressing the first button and the display indicates which of the mode-specific items is a currently active item.

Abstract: A method and system for reviewing and navigating through images displayed on an image capture unit is provided. A method and system includes displaying images in a predetermined number of group types. Each of the group types indicates a number of images to be displayed at a time. The number of images displayed at a time being a page of images. The method includes selecting one group type from the predetermined number of group types and navigating through a plurality of images within the group type through the use of a highlighting area surrounding an image to be selected. Finally, the method and system includes selecting a particular image within the group type based upon the highlighted area. In one aspect, the method and system includes a four-way button to facilitate ease of movement between an image or cell and between pages of images. It also includes a mode button which allows for movement between group types and a view button to facilitate selection of a particular image.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an image related event is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system remove an image file on a digital imaging device. The image file is capable of including incompletely processed data. A reference to the image file is stored in a database. The method and system include ensuring that removal of the image file will not affect processing of a second image file and removing the reference to the image file from the database. In another aspect, the method and system mount a volume on a digital imaging device. The volume contains an image file capable of including incompletely processed data. The method and system include detecting the insertion of the volume, mounting the volume, providing a database including a reference to the image file, and completing image processing of the image file if the image file contains incompletely processed data.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for accelerating a user interface on a display of an image capture unit. The image capture unit includes a plurality of image files for providing a plurality of images. In a first aspect, the method and system comprise selecting an image based upon a scrolling method and providing a predetermined number of speculation buffers. The method and system include organizing the predetermined number of speculation buffers based upon the selected image so as to assign each of the predetermined number of speculation buffers to store one of the plurality of images in response to the scrolling method. In a second aspect, the image capture unit operates in a plurality of modes The image capture unit also includes a plurality of input buffers which are utilized in one of the plurality of modes and are unutilized on at least one of the other of the plurality of modes.