Abstract: A method for anti-piracy protection of a software application by obfuscation of the execution of portions of the applications code is described. The method comprises providing a language specification and library to implement the functions of the language, providing a compiler to translate the language into byte codes, and providing an interpreter to execute the byte codes using the library. The method further comprises providing the language specifications, library, compiler, interpreter, and instructions to a software publisher, wherein the software publisher embeds the library and interpreter in the application to be protected, and selects and prepares application code segments for processing into byte codes by the compiler. The application is then executed using the embedded library and interpreter, wherein the execution of the application is obfuscated by the use of byte codes.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a user to select actions to be taken by a server when uploading images from a hand-held image capture device is disclosed. The method and system include storing an action list on the image capture device that includes one or more items representing actions that the server should take with respect to uploaded images. After the user initiates an image upload process, the action list is displayed to the user on the image capture device for user selection. After the user selects at least one of the items in the action list, the images and the selected action list item are sent to the server, and the server performs the specified action on the uploaded images.

Abstract: A method and system for viewing images from an image capture device on a host computer. The method and system include establishing communication between the image capture device and the host computer, and mounting the image capture device as a disk on the host computer. The method and system further include automatically generating an Internet page description file in the image capture device that references the images stored therein, and accessing the Internet page description file through a standard web browser on the host computer. The user may then view the images stored in image capture device on the host computer through the web browser.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image using an image capture device is disclosed. The image is capable of including a plurality of objects. Each of the plurality of objects is a corresponding distance from the imaging device. The image is associated with a focus zone. The method and system include determining if the image matches at least one criterion and determining whether at least one of the plurality of objects is out of focus if the image matches the at least one criterion. The method and system further include shifting the focus zone so that the at least one object is out of focus if at least one of the plurality of subjects is not out of focus.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a user with an album including a plurality of pages is disclosed. The method and system include allowing a user to purchase at least a portion of the album and allowing the user to set a plurality of defaults for the plurality of pages. The at least the portion of the album includes a portion of the plurality of pages. At least one default of the plurality of plurality of defaults is capable of being altered using information provided by the user. The method and system also include receiving from the user the information, if any, and receiving a plurality of images captured using a digital imaging device. The method and system also include altering the at least one default if the user has provided the information. The method and system also include providing a portion of the plurality of pages using the plurality of defaults and allowing the user access to the portion of the album.

Abstract: Method and means for controlling the execution sequence of a first sequence of modules in a first task. The first sequence of modules are linked to one another and have at least one sequence of execution. The method stores in each of the first sequence of modules a skip value representing which of subsequent modules to execute. The method executes the first of the first sequence of said modules, and then executes the next of the modules indicated by the skip value. Conservation of processor bandwidth is accomplished by avoiding the loading of modules which will not be executed. Method and means are further provided for simultaneous activation/deactivation of a set of tasks by a processor, each of the tasks normally executed in a sequential fashion by one or more processors. A list of tasks to be activated/deactivated is stored, including the timing relationship for the activation process. The list is then implemented as frame numbers for activation and requested state in the actual task list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing performance of a high-capacity storage media in a digital imaging device. The method aspect of the present invention includes, storing images on the storage media, where the images include tags for categorizing the images. A category list is generated from the tags in the images and the category list is stored on the storage media. A category within the category list is designated as a default category. The method further includes accessing the image category list in order to display the images, wherein only the images belonging to the default category are displayed, thereby speeding access to, and display of, the images.

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.

Abstract: A method for efficiently categorizing images on a computer system is disclosed. A series of related images that are to be categorized are ordered by time of capture, and category levels for input of category information by a user are displayed. The category levels include a highest-category level and a lowest-category level, where the highest-category level has a low frequency of data change between the series of related images, and the lowest-category level has a high frequency of data change between the series of images. A first image is then categorized by allowing the user to enter highest-category level data and lowest-category level data. A next image in the series is then categorized by leaving the highest-category level data unchanged, and automatically selecting the lowest-category level data for reentry by the user, thereby eliminating the need for the user to reenter the highest-category level data.

Abstract: Method and means for controlling the execution sequence of a first sequence of modules in a first task. The first sequence of modules are linked to one another and have at least one sequence of execution. The method stores in each of the first sequence of modules a skip value representing which of subsequent modules to execute. The method executes the first of the first sequence of said modules, and then executes the next of the modules indicated by the skip value. Conservation of processor bandwidth is accomplished by avoiding the loading of modules which will not be executed. Method and means are further provided for simultaneous activation/deactivation of a set of tasks by a processor, each of the tasks normally executed in a sequential fashion by one or more processors. A list of tasks to be activated/deactivated is stored, including the timing relationship for the activation process. The list is then implemented as frame numbers for activation and requested state in the actual task list.

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, each image file includes a high resolution image therein. The image capture unit includes controls for allowing an image to be viewed on the display and for allowing navigation between the plurality of images. The method and system in accordance with the present invention comprises providing a lower resolution image within each image file, the lower resolution image being associated with the high resolution image within a particular image file, wherein both the lower and higher resolution images are substantially display-sized; allowing the lower resolution image to be viewed on the display; and replacing display of the lower resolution images with the high resolution image if the user has not navigated to another image.

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.

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 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.

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.

Abstract: A method and system for providing anti-piracy protection to a software application on a server connected to a target machine over a network is described. The method includes providing a server with a server application for modifying the application software based on a machine fingerprint of the target machine, and for receiving and storing the application software. The server application receives the target machine fingerprint in conjunction with a license transaction between the server and the target machine. The server then modifies the application software using the received machine fingerprint, and provides the resulting modified software to the target machine, wherein the supplied software will only operate correctly on the target machine.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network is disclosed. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts, and sending information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the website server. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password, created based on the electronic device information. The user account information is then stored on electronic device for use the next time the electronic device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals. The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.

Abstract: Aspects for allowing variably controlled alteration of image processing of digital image data in a digital image capture device include forming an image processing chain with two or more image processors to process digital image data, and providing one or more parametric controls within each of the two or more image processors. The aspects further include accessing chosen controls of the one or more parametric controls to modify the two or more image processors for alteration of the image processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a digital camera image capture rate comprises an imaging device for capturing raw image data, a frame buffer for receiving the image data, a first RAM spooler for transferring the raw image data to a RAM disk, a first flash spooler for transferring the raw image data from the RAW disk to a flash memory, an image processor for processing and compressing the raw data, a second RAM spooler for storing the compressed image data into the RAM disk, and a second flash spooler for transferring the compressed image data from the RAM disk to the flash memory.