Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the execution sequence of a first sequence of modules in a first task are provided. 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. A method and apparatus 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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for digital image stamp positioning are disclosed. A method aspect, and system for providing same, positions a stamp in a digital image captured with a digital image capture unit independently of the digital image orientation. Included are the selecting of at least two offset values for a stamp and identifying of an area in an image for placing the stamp based on the at least two offset values. Additionally included is the positioning of the stamp within the identified area based on the at least two offset values.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic analysis and categorization of images in an electronic imaging device comprises one or more analysis modules that examine captured image files for selected criteria. The analysis modules then responsively generate and store appropriate category tags with the image file to enable the imaging device to subsequently access the stored category tags and automatically access desired categories of captured images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically rotating a graphical user interface for managing portrait and landscape captures in an image capture unit. A method and apparatus for viewing an image in an image capture unit including a display comprises the steps of providing a first orientation associated with the image and providing a second orientation associated with the image capture unit. It is then determined whether the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and the image is displayed in the second orientation if the first and second orientations are different from each other.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing damage to media files within a digital camera comprise a power manager for detecting power failures, an interrupt handler for responsively incrementing a counter device and a removable memory driver for performing memory access operations, evaluating the counter device to determine whether a power failure has occurred during the memory access operation and for repeating the memory access operation whenever a power failure has occurred during the memory access operation.

Abstract: A method and system for grouping a series of images stored in a digital camera. The digital camera includes a view finder for displaying a plurality of the image cells, where each of the image cells corresponds to one of the stored images. The digital camera also includes a navigation control button for positioning a highlight area around one of the plurality of image cells, and one or more function keys. The method and system includes assigning a mark function to one of the function keys, such that in response to the user pressing the assigned mark function key, the image cell currently highlighted is marked to provide a marked image. In response to the user repeating the above step, a group of marked images is created. The method and system further includes assigning at least one group function to one of the function keys, such that in response to a user pressing the assigned group function key, the group of marked images is collectively manipulated by the user.

Abstract: A power supply provides a voltage to a digital camera. If the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined threshold, a voltage sensor generates a signal to a power manager. In response, the power manager configures the camera into a lower power consumption state. As the power source weakens further, the power manager continues to place the camera into a lower and lower power consumption state, until the power source is exhausted. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of monitoring the power source's voltage, generating a signal if that voltage falls below a pre-determined threshold, and reducing the camera's power consumption in response to the signal.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling user interaction in a digital imaging device that includes a display screen. The method and system include providing the digital imaging device with a directed image capture sequence that comprises a set of program instructions, which when executed, display interactive instructions on the display screen that prompt the user to perform specific operations. In response to the user performing those operations, the interactive instructions are automatically updated to thereby guide the user through a series of related image captures. The directed image capture sequence is preferable written in an interpreted scripting language and loaded into the camera from an external source to add functionality to the digital imaging device.

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: 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 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: A method for altering a linked series of image processors capable of manipulation digital image data includes providing a digital image capture device with an image processing chain, and modifying the image processing chain to form a new image processing chain. The modifying further includes deleting an image processor from the image processing chain. Alternatively, the modifying further includes altering the image processing chain with at least one externally provided image processor, inserting an image processor into the image processing chain, or replacing an image processor in the image processing chain.In a system aspect, the system includes a digital image capture device, the digital image capture device capable of processing digital image data through two or more image processors. The system further includes a central processing unit within the digital image capture device and capable of linking the two or more image processors to form an image processing chain.

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 maintaining coherent image relationships within identified image groups in a memory system of a digital image capture device includes storing a plurality of groups of related images on a removable storage device in a hierarchical manner, and providing an alias identifier for an image file when the removable storage device has reached its storage capacity, wherein the alias identifier identifies the image file stored in a storage device of the digital image capture device. The method and system further includes providing the image file with a same file name and a substitute extension designation to correlate the image file on the storage device with an empty file of the same name on the removable storage device.

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 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.