Abstract: This present invention provides a system and method for transforming a main image of a digital image, such as one stored in the Exchangeable Image File (“EXIF”) format, updating the metadata, including the thumbnail image, to correspond to the transformed main image. The transformed main image and updated metadata are stored together in a file using the EXIF format so that the transformed main image may be viewed using a digital camera or viewer software compatible with a properly formatted EXIF file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing access by applications/utilities/tools to multimedia file metadata originally provided in any of a set of supported formats. A metadata abstraction interface is interposed between multimedia files and applications that seek to read and/or modify metadata associated with the multimedia files. The metadata abstraction interface supports program access to multimedia file metadata provided in a variety of formats and comprises a multimedia application program interface corresponding to a set of core multimedia file metadata management functions accessible by multimedia applications. The metadata abstraction interface includes an extensible set of file type-specific metadata decoders. Each decoder includes a metadata converter for parsing a metadata portion of a multimedia file stored in a particular native format (e.g., .bmp). The decoders render metadata in a generic format from the parsed metadata.

Abstract: A user mode device driver interface (UMDDI) is disclosed. The UMDDI is preferably implemented in Windows® NT® version 5.0 and similar systems. The UMDDI allows a device driver to execute in user-mode while the graphics engine (GRE) remains in kernel-mode. The UMDDI exists as a layer between the user-mode driver and GRE; from the perspective of GRE, it encapsulates the user-mode driver and makes it appear to be a normal kernel-mode driver. The UMDDI layer handles the kernel-to-user and user-to-kernel transitions, parameter validation, and management of the kernel-mode and user-mode data and objects.

Abstract: A system and method for processing color objects provides optimal processing quality by supporting both a perceptual-based color space and a physical-based color space and utilizing both color spaces for color processing in an integrated manner transparent to the end user. The graphics engine of the system includes a module for converting a color object being processed between the perceptual-base color space and the physical-based color space. During color processing that may involve various perceptual-based and physical-based operations, the graphics engine automatically converts the color object from one of the perceptual-based and physical-based color spaces to the other depending on the color processing operation to be performed. The graphics engine may also perform conversions on input graphic data from an input device to one of the dual color spaces for processing and converting a processed class object into the color space of an output device for displaying or printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing access by applications/utilities/tools to multimedia file metadata originally provided in any of a set of supported formats. A metadata abstraction interface is interposed between multimedia files and applications that seek to read and/or modify metadata associated with the multimedia files.

Abstract: A new method and data encapsulation arrangement are disclosed for over-ranging color image data. The resulting data storage format renders color image data sets encoded in the over-ranging format compatible with in-range color image systems. Thus, color images including over-ranging portions will be readable by legacy systems that handle only in-range color data.